Concerns over planned move of Gloucestershire Fire Service HQ
They currently share the Waterwells Gloucestershire Tri-service emergency centre with the police and ambulance service.
Last updated 26th May 2023
There's concerns about the move of Gloucestershire Fire Service's HQ.
They currently share the Waterwells Gloucestershire Tri-service emergency centre with the police and ambulance service.
Gloucestershire's former Police and Crime Commissioners questioning the plans - he says 'Police, fire and ambulance are meant to collaborate not separate'.
Staff have been told about the plans to move - but fire control, ITC and logistics and resources will stay put.
Mark Preece - chief fire officer at Gloucester Fire and Rescue says those elements will remain at the current HQ to ensure that we continue to deliver an effective and efficient fire and rescue service for the benefit of a safer Gloucestershire.
He said: “The Gloucestershire Triservice Emergency Centre had all-party support from the county council, received millions from the Government and was supported by the people.
Police, fire and ambulance are meant to collaborate not separate.”
Fire and rescue scrutiny committee chairman Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said he can remember the opening of the TriService Centre during his time as the cabinet member for the fire service. He said: “I was proud of our achievement. It was wonderful to be there at the time it was created.
“Over the years, the original plan for the TriService Centre has been undermined by successive government policy. Now the county council is considering moving its fire service HQ out of the centre to Shire Hall.
“I will ensure that the fire service scrutiny committee that I chair, rigorously scrutinises the plan of the council’s administration.
“We cannot get this wrong. Collaboration between the county’s blue light services is critical to public safety.”
Mark Preece, chief fire officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said the authority has started the process of engaging with headquarters workforce about moving the current headquarters from Waterwells to Quayside in Gloucester.
“The move provides an opportunity for wider integration with our colleagues in the county council, enhancing further collaborative opportunities and engagement with the communities we serve.
“The move will see some teams remaining at the current headquarters location to keep us integrated with the tri-service headquarters, including fire control, logistics and resources, driver training and the local resilience forum, to ensure that we continue to deliver an effective and efficient fire and rescue service for the benefit of a safer Gloucestershire.”