Welshpool Mayor slams Air Ambulance decision

Welshpool, at the heart of a debacle that has rocked the whole of Mid and North Wales, has made its official stance known to those behind the decision to close the town’s Wales Air Ambulance base.

At a recent town council meeting, it was unanimously decided that a letter would be sent to the charity letting them know just how angry the town has reacted to the shocking call.

And last night, that letter was shared with us to allow residents to see what the Mayor, Cllr Nick Howells, has said.

He has accused the charity of making a ‘done decision’ and labelled the public consultation “meaningless”.

Below is the text in its entirety.

Dear sir/madam

I am writing on behalf of Welshpool Town Council to express our deep concern and disappointment at the decision to close the Welshpool Air Ambulance station at Welshpool Airport.

This service has literally been a lifeline to residents in the remote areas of Mid Wales. There is strong consensus within the community that this decision was made some time ago and that the public consultation was basically meaningless.

A great number of people, including myself, have donated to the Air Ambulance charity frequently over previous years. There have been many claims on social media that a considerable number of donators will no longer donate to the charity if this service is removed.

It has come to my attention that there is the possibility that there is a campaign to save Welshpool and Caernarfon Air Ambulance bases who have launched a legal challenge to the “fundamentally flawed decision taken” by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) to close both bases.

If a judicial challenge becomes a reality I can categorically state that it will receive the support of Welshpool Town Council I believe and the vast majority of the community of Welshpool.

We beg you to reconsider.

Your sincerely

Cllr Nick Howells
Welshpool Town Council Mayor