The Fire Brigades Union has called proposals by Gloucestershire fire service to close a fire station and cut all the full time firefighters at another ‘disgraceful’.

The FBU argues that the proposals will cause significant risks to public safety.

Scott Turner, secretary of the FBU in Gloucestershire, said: “Firefighters in Gloucestershire are shocked and deeply concerned at these recommendations that will put the safety of the public and firefighters in the county at greater risk.

“Thousands of people shared the concerns of firefighters and signed petitions calling for the plans, which will lead to slower responses times across the county, to be dropped. 

"These plans will lead to fewer firefighters and fire stations which will compromise our ability to respond to large scale incidents such as flooding.

“We urge the county council to put public safety first and reject these cuts at their full cabinet meeting next week.”

Trevor French, regional secretary of the FBU in the South West, added: “The public have made their thoughts clear on these recommendations and if the consultation means anything, these cuts must be rejected.”

Original source

FBU