The Liberal Democrats have backed the county council's attempts to stop the police and crime commissioner's proposed takeover of the fire and rescue service.

Gloucestershire County Council has sent the Home Secretary Sajid Javid a comprehensive case opposing the move by PCC Martin Surl.

The council is against his proposal on the grounds that it will impact public safety, reduce the level of funding available to the service and minimise public scrutiny of decisions.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding Network Rail delivers on a commitment for hourly direct rail services to London from Gloucester.

Hourly direct services to Paddington were due to start in December 2018 but have been delayed until December 2019 at the earliest.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester Liberal Democrats, is calling on Network Rail to deliver the hourly service as part of the forthcoming May 2019 timetable changes for the Great Western mainline.

Councillors have backed a call from the Liberal Democrats for more police officers on the beat in Gloucester.

A motion proposed by the Liberal Democrats at city council last week was amended by councillors and adopted.

Over the last decade the Thin Blue Line has been getting even thinner.

Crime is rising, Gloucestershire Police has had to make budget savings of £32 million and the force has nearly 300 fewer officers than a decade ago.

This Saturday hundreds of people from Gloucestershire are expected to join the hundreds of thousands from across the country that are descending on Parliament Square to demand a People's Vote.
Just six days before the Conservative Government hopes to take Britain out of Europe, campaigners are marching on Westminster to offer a solution to the crisis that threatens the public's living standards, businesses and jobs.
Joining the protesters are dozens of Liberal Democrats from the county, including Councillors Jeremy Hilton and Declan Wilson, from Gloucester, Councillor Max Wilkinson, from Cheltenham, and the Cotswolds' Liz Webster.
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of the Lib Dems on Gloucester City Council, said: "The British public narrowly voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum but they didn't vote for a final destination.
"Theresa May's Brexit deal has been condemned on all sides - it is a bad deal for Britain.
"More than 7,500 EU citizens live in Gloucester and many will be the backbone of vital public services, such as the NHS and the care sector.
"The Government needs to end the uncertainty surrounding the rights of EU citizens who live in the UK."
"Parliament cannot agree on a way forward and so the British public should be given a final say in a People's Vote."
Deputy Lib Dem group leader Councillor Declan Wilson added: "Leaving the EU will mean the loss of citizenship rights we now all enjoy. Currently we are able to work, study, live and retire anywhere in the EU.
"Our European Health Insurance Card provides health cover across all member states.
"These are benefits that are important to everyone, but especially so for the younger generation who are starting out on their adult lives.
"We must also consider the negative impact that leaving the EU will have on many local businesses that trade within the Single Market."

The Liberal Democrats are urging council bosses to secure the long-term future of the Debenhams department store in Gloucester.

The nationwide chain is planning on closing 50 stores across the country over the next five years, which will also mean the loss of 4,000 jobs.

It is not known whether the store in King's Square, which has been open since 1973, is part of those plans.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham has been criticised for again making derogatory comments about immigrants - this time Eastern Europeans.

Mr Graham was involved in a discussion on Twitter after praising a reduction in homelessness in Gloucester.

The Gloucester City Mission rejected Mr Graham's claim and said the night shelters in both Gloucester and Cheltenham were full and turning people away.

The Liberal Democrats are demanding more police officers on the beat in Gloucester.

The call has been made in a motion to the city council which is set to be debated on March 21.

Councillors will be asked to lobby the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Chief Constable, the city MP and the Home Secretary to increase funding for Gloucestershire Police to allow for expansion of neighbourhood policing and to put more bobbies on the beat.

Gloucester Liberal Democrats have extended the hand of friendship to supporters of both the Conservative and Labour parties, saying 'Come and work with us'.

The resignation of Conservative and Labour MPs to sit as independents in the House of Commons shows that big changes are afoot in British politics.