BLACK DAY FOR BRANSFORD EOC - BURT

11.28.00pm GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

Richard Burt attended the crunch meeting of the West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust (WMAST) Board at Walsall Football Club today and condemned the Board's decision to close Bransford and Shrewsbury Emergency Ambulance Controls. He called the decision a "travesty of justice", saying that both he and staff representatives at Bransford were in discussions to consider mounting a judicial review.

Richard Burt said:

"It's no coincidence that Bransford and Shrewsbury were chosen for closure because they are the only two Emergency Controls in the West Midlands on freehold sites - the others are leasehold and cannot be sold.

"Despite the protestations of the Trust, this decision is about finding easy money to buy new communications systems and will be paid for by the loss of dedicated local teams already delivering first class emergency cover in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

"All that is best about Bransford will be lost if it is forced to close and jobs are moved to Brierley Hill.

"These Emergency Controls need enhancing - not destroying.

"The consultation process has been nothing more than a thirteen week road show for the Trust's own proposal.

"The process has thrown up at least four very serious alternatives to the Trust's closure plan, but there has been no attempt to extend the consultation to allow these alternatives to be discussed and voted on by the 82 organisations, staff and thousands of members of the public who commented on the single closure plan.

"The Trust and Board have acted as judge, jury and executioner for Bransford and Shrewsbury Ambulance Emergency Controls, pressing ahead with their own closure plan and denying stakeholders the opportunity, within the formal consultation period, to discuss and vote on alternatives.

"The consultation has been a whitewash from start to finish. The Board should rip it up and start again.

"This decision is a travesty of justice and should not be left unchallenged. I am currently taking legal advice on the possibility of a judicial review. I know staff representatives at Bransford are also discussing similar options and I will continue to work closely with them to find the best way forward."