Date set for court showdown over closure of Welshpool air ambulance base
A legal challenge to the hugely controversial closure of an air ambulance base will take place next week.
Campaigners battling a decision to close Welshpool's Wales Air Ambulance base will make their case at a judicial review hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
The hearing is set for Wednesday and Thursday next week (January 22 and 23).
It is likely the final opportunity to force a re-think over the move.
The decision to stop operating the air ambulance from a Mid Wales base was taken by NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) in April last year.
That decision came after a lengthy 'consultation' where the public were asked to give their views over the plans to relocate the service to a new base in North Wales.
Despite thousands of people opposing the plan and taking part in the consultation, the decision was made to go ahead regardless.
The process began in 2022 when the proposals were leaked, sparking shock and outrage across Mid Wales.
An update from the campaign group battling against the proposals confirmed the date for the hearing.
It said: "A hearing date has now been set for the Judicial Review - it will start at 10am on Wednesday, January 22 and continue Thursday, January 23. The hearing will take place at Cardiff Crown Court."
It added: "We have everything crossed for the right outcome for the people of Mid Wales and North West Wales."
Welshpool Councillor Graham Breeze, a member of the campaign group, said there was huge frustration across Mid Wales at the way the process and the following consultation had been handled.
He said: "I feel we have been misled all along by the officials and hence the reason I think there has been recognition that this review process needed to take place."
