Gloucestershire County Council has paid tribute to the commitment and dedication of the emergency services during last month's disturbances in Gloucester.

There was unanimous support for a motion proposed by Cllr Dennis Andrewartha for the council to congratulate the emergency services for the effective way they dealt with the disturbances on Tuesday, August 9th. It was seconded by Cllr Jeremy Hilton.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Gloucestershire Constabulary have been praised for their co-ordinated response during and after the trouble.

More than 100 firefighters and 16 fire engines tackled fires in Gloucester city centre during the disturbances, including the major fire at the former Gloscat media college building in Brunswick Road.

As well as dealing with disturbances elsewhere in the city centre, the police created a safe route into the fire and set up a cordon around the site to protect the firefighters from coming under attack from the rioters.

Firefighters and community engagement staff from the city and county councils also visited businesses and residents in the days after the disturbances to provide reassurance and advice to help them ensure their own safety.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "All of our emergency services worked extremely hard during this very difficult period and they had our full support throughout. Our Tri-Service Centre at Waterwells really came into its own that night.

"In other parts of the country, fires had to be left to burn as firefighters' safety could not be guaranteed but the co-ordinated response from police and fire meant all incidents were dealt with by the morning.

"Enterprise, the city council's street cleaning contractors, were also out on the streets at 6.30am to ensure the people who caused this trouble did not get the final victory as people did not see the mess they has caused. The way that emergency services and local authorities worked together so effectively deserves our thanks and praise."

Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: "I would like to thank Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service for the work they did putting out the fires around Gloucester, including the former Gloscat media college. Half of the service was out that night; they were stretched but they coped, ensuring there was sufficient cover around the county.

"They also called upon around 900 properties in the Barton and Eastgate areas in the days after the disturbances to provide much-needed reassurance, and with the police, ensured there was no repeat of the incidents on August 9th. This is a lovely city in which to live. People should respect this city, not wreck it, and we can only hope this never happens again."

Cllr Steve McHale, Leader of the Labour Group, said: "The emergency services do an excellent job of protecting the people of Gloucestershire every day and it is important to thank them for that. It's also important to highlight the work of the city and county council officers in clearing up the mess so quickly.

"I am born and bred in Gloucester and I'm proud of this city. Peaceful protest is welcomed but this was vandalism that hurt our communities."

 

Posted September 8th, 2011 at 1000 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com