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Malmesbury Ambulance station

THE future of Malmesbury ambulance station is under review but health bosses have denied it is about to be sold off.

Great Western Ambulance Trust is understood to be looking at all 30 of its stations and those that are the least used are most under threat.

Last March it was reported that the station was to close but crews have continued to operate out of its Station Road home.

Now the trust has admitted it is looking closely at the future of some of the lesser-used stations.

County councillor John Thompson said that although there are no plans to sell the station building yet, there are likely to be changes in the long term.

He said: "Nowadays rather than having paramedics stationed in buildings they have them sitting where they can reach situations more easily.

"Some stations are not central to where their services are demanded. They will be reviewing stations like Malmesbury to see whether we actually need them."

Coun Thompson also said he would be keen to see the paramedics and ambulance staff move to the new primary care site at Burton Hill when it is completed.

Coun John Thomson

"When we first had this project in mind for Burton Hill we tried to see if the police would look at taking on the ambulance station and then the paramedics move up to the old hospital site.

"It makes sense to me but the trust weren't keen on it."

Town councillor Martyn Snell first heard the closure rumour from an ambulance staff member. He said: "I heard that it had already been sold. I would be very interested to see what they are planning to do.

"My opinion is that they would be better off to have the police station down there, where they are needed, and keep the ambulance service, but move it elsewhere."

"Although if they do sell it off I think the public will have something to say. But I don't think they will be surprised."

A spokesman for the ambulance trust said: "We do continue to look at our estates and monitor them closely but there are no plans to move Malmesbury's station anywhere at the moment."

9:48am Thursday 27th March 2008

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