A PETITION to keep the air ambulance base in Welshpool open has received more than 3,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Newtown councillor Joy Jones launched the petition on Change.org after the air ambulance charity confirmed on Wednesday (August 17) that it may close the Powys base after looking at analysis of its callouts.

The proposals suggest that the base could be combined with the North Wales base in Caernarfon.

Cllr Jones said: "This is a vital service that every year save many lives and air lifts serious ill or injured patients to hospital.

"This service is extremely important to Powys due to the rural areas we live and the huge distances we have to travel for emergency care.

"With lack of road ambulances in our area, it is important that we keep the air ambulance in Powys where it can be scrambled quickly to reach patients. If this moves and serves a larger area it will have a serious impact on Powys patients health and the urgent treatment they receive.

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"So many families and patients value the service we have and receive from the air ambulance based in Welshpool.

"Please don't move it away from its base in Welshpool."

Meanwhile, politicians from across Powys have voiced their outrage at the potential closure.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, Jane Dodds MS, said she was “extremely concerned” about the plans.

“This service is absolutely vital to the region and has saved countless lives,” said Ms Dodds.

“Myself and the Welsh Liberal Democrats are of the view that the service must remain in place at all costs - it is vital that the organisation gets the funding it needs and I will raise this issue at the earliest possibility with the Welsh Government in the Senedd."

Plaid Cymru have said they are fully behind saving the saving the base, with both Plaid Cymru Powys councillors, Elwyn Vaughan and Gary Mitchell - who supported Cllr Jones' petition launch - putting their weight behind the campaign to keep the service.

“It is imperative that this service continues, it has provided essential support for our communities and other emergency services and it is vital it continues in the future,” said Councillor Vaughan.

“We are working as a team on this. Cllr Gary Mitchell is pressing on Powys Council and Powys Teaching Health Board to ask questions about this threat and wants the council to invite heads of air ambulance to the authority to clarify their decision.

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Councillor Gary Mitchell added: “I want Powys Council to make it clear how essential this service is to our residents. Our rurality is a important factor and the air ambulance provides a essential backup to the other emergency services.

“We are well aware of the long waiting times that exist for ambulances and the long distances to major hospitals; we therefore need this assurance and air ambulance to alleviate the genuine concerns of our residents.”

They have both asked Plaid Cymru regional Senedd Member, Cefin Campbell to raise the matter with the Health Minister.

These follow comments from local Montgomery Conservative politicians, Craig Williams MP and Russell George MS who both said they were looking to have a meeting with Wales Air Ambulance about the proposals.

In the statement released yesterday, Dr Sue Barnes, Wales Air Ambulance Charity chief executive, said: “Through the trust that the public has placed in us over the past 21 years, we have been able to evolve into one of the most advanced air ambulance operations in Europe. We have a track record of making decisions with patients and their families at our heart.

“It’s important to remember that we go to the patient, the patient doesn’t come to us. There is strong evidence that says every part of Wales will benefit from the proposed changes.

“Our aim is always to make the best use of our donations by attending even more people in need. People have trusted us in the past and we’ve delivered. Whatever we decide to do moving forward, we really hope that people trust us once more.”