Press release from Gloucestershire County Council:
The ‘shaping a safer county’ consultation is asking the public, stakeholders and workforce for their views on proposals to redeploy existing resources into creating a wholetime day-crewed model in Cinderford.
This would strengthen fire cover in the Forest of Dean and make the best use of existing resources across the county.
The proposals are based on independent analysis and data modelling which concluded that providing a day crew at Cinderford would deliver significant operational and community safety benefits. These would include faster response times, increased fire prevention work and a stronger presence in the community.
Data modelling has shown that due to a combination of overlapping response coverage, the proximity of neighbouring stations and lower overnight demand, resources would be better placed as Cinderford during the day, rather than Cheltenham West during the night.
Cheltenham West would retain a wholetime day crew under the plans and Cheltenham East remains as 24 hour cover.
The proposals also respond to financial pressures facing Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service. As part of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, the service is required to deliver savings of £827,000 over the next four years. The recommended option would achieve these savings by redeploying existing resources rather than creating new posts, allowing investment to be focused where it can have the greatest impact.
The consultation closes on Monday 28 September. Please read the background information on the GFRS website and within the consultation brochure.
Or, you can download the questionnaire, print it and return it to:
GFRS Consultation
Opinion Research Services,
Freepost SS1018
POBox 530
Swansea
SA1 1ZL
If you have any questions, would like this information in a different format, or want to find out more, please contact us at firecoverreview@glosfire.gov.uk or by calling 01452 427554.
No changes to fire cover optimisation will be taken until the public consultation has been concluded and further cabinet approval.