Fire chiefs are considering sharing some of their stations with Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service commissioned a feasibility study across six fire stations which have the potential to be used by the police.
The survey looked at stations in Stroud, Dursley, Stow, Cirencester, Newent and Winchcombe.
And a report presented to councillors recently says two of the most promising options are the stations in Dursley and Newent stations which police say would be viable locations for coworking.
Fire, community safety and libraries member Dave Norman (C, Grange and Kingsway) said he was fully supportive of more collaboration with other emergency services.
He said: “We’ve always wanted to work collaboratively with the constabulary and under the 2017 Act there is a duty to cooperate which the previous police and crime commissioner would not do.
“But thankfully we are now in a situation where we have a police and crime commissioner who is looking as collaboratively as he can.
“Clearly, if the fire and rescue service has facilities that it can make available for the residents in those towns where there is a possible collaborative approach to community engagement with blue light services I’m 100% behind it.
“Having served for 30 years as an on-call firefighter myself across the country and where I experienced in the past successful blue light collaboration in premises were made available.”
Fire and rescue scrutiny committee chairman Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingshom and Wotton) welcomed the proposals.
He said: “If they were to share the facilities it would be the responsibility of the police authority for paying for the additional accommodation and there would be an annual rent toward the cost of the facilities.
“The proposals would not be at any additional cost to Gloucestershire County Council. It helps with the cooperative working between the emergency services if they can base themselves together.”
The feasibility report found the following for each of the towns it considered:
- Dursley: This station was considered by police to be a viable option. The station is within a very short distance of the existing police station that offers community engagement, parking facilities and a varying degree of office accommodation and conversion options without compromising the fire stations identity and operational areas. This station is occupied by the ambulance service and has the potential to become the first blue-light operational station in Gloucestershire.
- Stroud: Whilst a large station, this offers limited space for Police. Stroud is currently used as the county’s stand-by emergency control. The station is not front facing for passing footfall and community engagement.
- Stow: This station was not considered viable as there are is space available for office accommodation which could meaningfully be converted to accommodate the Police. Access and egress were considered unsatisfactory.
- Cirencester: This station has a large area on the first floor and offered suitable parking requirements it was considered insufficient accommodation to house police staff located at the main Cirencester central site which offers a front facing site for the community.
- Newent: This site is considered to be a significant improvement for police as they currently occupy a police point in the town’s library. There are various opportunities for office accommodation, parking, ease of access and a visible presence. The area identified was occupied by the ambulance service. There would be no impact on the operational areas. The benefits include an increased presence following a break-in in 2021.
- Winchcombe: Feasibility to be completed.
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter