PLANS setting out how Gloucestershire's fire service will continue to work to protect residents from harm over the next three years have been given the go-ahead.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s Integrated Risk Management Plan was signed off following a 12-week public consultation carried out between November last year and January 2015, which showed 78 per cent of people in the county were in favour of the plans.

The plan, which the service is required to produce every three years, includes provision to complete a full operational review of the service over the next year as well as a commitment to consult on any changes with will significantly impact communities, won approval at a meeting of Gloucestershire County Council’s cabinet on Wednesday, April 15.

Following the decision the service’s chief fire officer Stewart Edgar said: “I am delighted Gloucestershire residents have shared their views on the changes we need to make and that they value and support our fire and rescue service.

“Over the next three years we will continue to provide a first class service by targeting resources and working smarter, whilst also keeping our firefighters safe.”

The council’s cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure Cllr Will Windsor-Clive thanked residents in the county for taking part in the consultation.

“Our fire and rescue service is already excellent and these operational changes will ensure we can keep people in Gloucestershire safe in the future,” he said.

The finalised report will be published at the end of this month.