THE fiasco over the new regional fire control centre is the latest in a long line of troubled Government-inspired IT projects.

MPs say the scheme to replace 46 fire control rooms with nine new regional centres in England and Wales has been “poorly executed and badly managed’’ and lessons had not been learned from previous mistakes.

Pretty damning stuff – all the more so with the current fire control system appearing to be working well.

The control rooms are local and a price can’t be put on the importance of local knowledge.

If this new system cannot be proved to be better, more efficient and that safety will not be compromised then it should not go ahead.

After all, lives are more important than political pride.