Residents fume over air ambulance base near 'peaceful' village

PROPOSALS PROMPT RURAL BACKLASH

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

FURIOUS residents have threatened legal action over a proposed air ambulance station on the edge of their rural village in Denbighshire.

A greenfield site near homes and businesses in Rhuallt has been identified as the preferred location for the new base.

Community consultations are taking place following confirmation that Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) bases are to close in Welshpool, Powys, and Caernarfon, Gwynedd. They are to be replaced by a "central" base and plans are now being firmed up for the Rhuallt site.

According to residents, no alternative sites are currently being considered. They claim "test works" have been undertaken already and argue noise impacts on their "peaceful" village will be "catastrophic".

The WAA said potential sites were looked at within the geographical area highlighted by an independent Service Review. As well as assessing suitability, the charity has pledged to share information with nearby residents. A spokesperson added: "This is what we are currently engaged in within Denbighshire."

It's prompted local people to come together to formally object to the proposal. Should Denbighshire Council give planning consent for the site, affected residents and businesses say they will have "little option but to explore legal remedies". This may include potential claims relating to loss of property values.

Residents argue the development is an "unjustified and inappropriate encroachment" into open countryside near the Clwydian Range AONB. They also claim the land is not allocated for development within the Denbighshire Local Development Plan (LDP).