00:00 It's great to be here in Newan this afternoon for the opening of this joint fire and police station.
00:07 We've been pushing for quite some time now to improve the footprint of our police in our communities.
00:16 And one of the best ways of doing it, we've found, is by working with our colleagues in the County Council and the Fire Service
00:24 to have these combined fire stations, police stations. This is the first one, Winchcombe next week is going to be the second one
00:33 and there's two or three others that we've got our eye on if they are suitable.
00:38 And it'll improve the footprint of the police in our community, make it easier for our officers to go on patrol,
00:45 organise meetings, take place, these meetings here in this fire station, so that the police are closer to the community they serve.
00:57 So it's a great day.
00:59 Can I echo what the Police and Crime Commissioner has said?
01:03 The Fire and Rescue Service is delighted that we continue to work in a collaborative way.
01:11 It's fantastic that we can provide facilities to improve what is available to the communities that we serve across the county.
01:21 We have a very close working relationship now, which historically has not existed, but it's fantastic that we're now where we are moving forward.
01:31 Newan today, which is very close to my heart for very many reasons, moving on to Winchcombe,
01:37 and my aim, working with the Chief Fire Officer and other colleagues, is we have at least one of these police and community fire hubs
01:49 available in every district council area of Gloucestershire, because it's got to be right for our working,
01:55 and it's got to be right for the communities that we serve.
01:58 So I'm delighted to be shaking the hand of the Police and Crime Commissioner,
02:03 with people here today witnessing a first, and it won't be the last.
02:08 Thank you very much.
02:10 Great. Well done.
02:12 [APPLAUSE]
02:15 [clattering]
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