Cllr Paul Hodgkinson not persuaded that it's right to move the night crew from Cheltenham West to provide a day crew in Cinderford

“Having carefully considered all of the feedback from the recent public consultation, I am not persuaded that it would be right to move the night crew from Cheltenham West to provide a day crew in Cinderford. 

“However, doing nothing is not an option. The challenges that led to the proposal have not gone away. The risks facing our communities are changing, as are the demands on our firefighters. Over the summer, we saw first-hand the increasingly varied and complex incidents our crews can be called upon to respond to.

“We need to make sure Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is fit for the future, with the right people, skills and resources in the right places to keep our communities and firefighters safe.

“That is why I have asked the Chief Fire Officer to develop other viable options for Cabinet to consider that address the risks that have been identified in the Forest of Dean, strengthen the resilience of the service and make the best possible use of the resources available to us.

“Listening to feedback is important, but so is finding solutions. I am committed to continuing to work constructively with firefighters and the Fire Brigades Union as we develop the best way forward.”