Press Release from Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service

Fire plans get the go ahead

The final phase of a £25 million fire service investment project has been approved.

Gloucestershire County Council’s planning committee today gave the green light for a new Community Fire Station in Uckington.

It is the final piece of a four-part jigsaw, which will see fire and rescue services in the county transformed.

Plans for a new fire station at Elmbridge Court and another in Shepherd Road, Quedgeley, Gloucester, have already been approved, as have plans to completely rebuild the Keynsham Road station in Cheltenham.

Creating the new fire stations will help firefighters meet their eight-minute response deadlines and therefore save more lives in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is also planning to build a Community Life Skills Centre in Gloucester, which will be used to educate young vulnerable people about living safely.

The aim is to create a unique interactive facility for schools, community and business groups and members of the public throughout Gloucestershire.

The project will be funded through a private finance initiative.

Chief Fire Officer, Terry Standing, said: “This is a very exciting time for the service.
“This project is a significant investment into community safety in Gloucestershire.
“Community involvement is an essential part of this investment and I am very much looking forward to working with the public on taking these plans on.”

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsible for community safety, said: “This is excellent news.

“This project is a major investment into community safety in Gloucestershire and will help save lives for generations to come.

“Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service already does an outstanding job and this project will ensure that their work can continue with resources fit for the 21st Century.”

Contact

Issued by Lisa Bonnell, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 425226

ENDS

24th January 2008

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