10,000 back public inquiry into Welshpool Air Ambulance axe

Over 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the closure of the base which was confirmed in a majority vote of the Welsh health boards in April.

This now means the question will have to be considered for debate in the Welsh Senedd.

The decision to close the Welshpool and Caernafon bases and relocate them to a new North Wales site was received badly in Powys.

This followed a dedicated campaign was launched in Mid Wales to retain the bases and the majority of public feedback in the public consultation also backed this outcome.

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Campaigners welcomed the news , including Cynthia Duce who was one of the leading voices in Powys calling for the base to stay.

“We are overwhelmed with the support for the petition,” said Mrs Duce. “With it currently standing at 10,272 signatures the Petition Committee will now consider this for a debate in the Senedd.

“The fact that in just over six weeks this figure was achieved just shows how the Save Wales Air Ambulance Campaign is still supported, and the fight to keep this vital service in Mid Wales continues.”

This is not the only way campaigners are fighting the decision as they have also made a start on the process of applying for a judicial review into the decision and the public consultation that was held.