Tewkesbury slipway approved

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service has been granted approval to build an emergency slipway in Tewkesbury, to improve response times and ultimately, help save lives.

Following a number of rescue and recovery operations on this stretch of water, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) first put in permission for development of the slipway in 2004 through the land owners, Avon Navigational Trust (ANT).

The site was identified as the best location for this emergency slipway, providing a safe launch and retrieval for a water rescue boat onto the River Severn.

As the site is a village green, GFRS and the land owners (ANT) had to ask the Secretary of State for permission to take the development forward.

The letter of approval from Defra came at the end of last week to say that GFRS had been successful in their application for the slipway.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Geoff Sallis, said: "I am very pleased that we have finally received approval from Defra to build the slipway in Tewkesbury."

"Talks have been going on for a number of years with lots of different organisations and we have been grateful for the support of Gloucestershire County Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and local residents during this time.

Development of the slipway will start as soon as possible to help us continue to keep the people of Gloucestershire safe."

Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for communities, said: "This is great news for the fire service and the people of Gloucestershire.

Having the slipway will mean we are able to directly access a stretch of river close to Tewkesbury town - something that we've never had before.

This, of course, will mean that our response times will be improved - by up to as much as 20 minutes.

I am delighted that we are now able to put the thinking of the slipway into practice."

ENDS

You can follow Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service on www.facebook.com/glosfire or www.twitter.com/glosfire You can also follow our Chief Fire Officer on www.twitter.com/glosfirechief

Issued by:Laura Biddington, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 425093, email: laura.biddington@gloucestershire.gov.uk

9th January 2012