In March 2008 Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue gained government approval and funding through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to commence with a multi-million pound project to build 4 new Community Fire Stations within Gloucester and Cheltenham and a Life Skills Centre (now known as SkillZONE).
We are planning not just for today but into the foreseeable future. Plans to develop the urban areas around Gloucester and Cheltenham over the coming years, will not only bring increased housing but also a corresponding increase of vehicles to our roads. The new stations will enable us to respond to many more emergency calls within our 8-minute target.
Where will the new stations and SkillZONE be? Two stations will be built on new sites - one at Cheltenham Road East and one at Uckington.
We will be rebuilding the Keynsham Road station and moving the existing Gloucester station at Eastern Avenue to two new sites at Shepherd Road and Cheltenham Road East.
All stations will be built with specific community facilities, so they become true Community Fire Stations.
SkillZONE will be built alongside the new fire station at Shepherd Road in Gloucester. The Centre will focus on providing a wide range of practical risk scenarios including road, rail, fire, electrical and water safety as well as other dangers in the home, slips, trips, accidental poisoning, internet safety and social responsibility for visitors to experience but within a safe setting.
All of the stations and SkillZONE are due to be completed during the first 6 months of 2012.