There will be no “preferred option” on the future of the Wales Air Ambulance base in Welshpool ahead of public meetings next week, it has been confirmed.
Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner, Stephen Harrhy, who is running the public engagement about the future of the service on behalf of the NHS in Wales, has said that there is no “preferred option” that his team has developed after the first round of public meetings earlier this year.
Mr Harrhy has been running public engagement across Wales with the first round of public meetings seeing hundreds of Powys residents appearing to put forward their views about the Welshpool base being potentially closed.
OTHER NEWS:
- Powys B&B owners triumph in Channel 4's Four in a Bed
- Powys woman who carried knife 'for protection' given suspended jail term
- Military units from across the world descend on Powys for gruelling exercise
Since then, the NHS’s Emergency Ambulance Service Committee, which is headed by Mr Harrhy, has been analysing the data and taking on board suggestions to develop options about what the service in Wales will look like in the future.
These options are set to be released Monday (October 9) and will be presented at public meetings across Powys this month.
“The options developed will be published on the EASC website the date the engagement window begins where the public and stakeholders will have a month in which to review my report and supporting documents, attend any engagement sessions, and provide their comments through a range of methods up until Sunday November 5,” said Mr Harrhy.
“My report does not set out a preferred option but will outline what feedback was received in Phase 1 and what work has been done since based on the feedback.
“The options that have been modelled are presented in Phase 2 providing the opportunity for stakeholders to comment on and ask questions.
“Feedback about the options after Phase 2 has completed, will help me arrive at a recommendation and preferred option for the Committee to decide on.”
The first meetings about the proposals will be held next week with a drop-in session at Welshpool Town Hall on Thursday October 12 from 12pm-3pm and public meeting at Welshpool High School from 6.30-7.30pm at Welshpool High School.
Meetings will be held the following evening at Newtown High School from 6.30-7.30pm and another meeting will be held in Machynlleth on Monday October 16 Ysgol Bro Hyddgen.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here