Friday, April 5, 2024
DECISION ON AIR BASE IS DELAYED Further meeting will be held, as one politician describes situation as ‘shambolic’
KAREN COMPTON
karen.compton@mnamedia.co.uk
The final decision over the proposed closure of Wales Air Ambulance’s base in Welshpool has been delayed again – this time until April 23.
The situation was described as “shambolic” by one politician. A decision was expected at a meeting on Thursday last week, when all seven of Wales’s health boards’ chief executives were due to get together. But after a meeting of the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee on March 19, some health boards were not able to discuss the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service review due to time constraints. And others, such as Powys Teaching Health Board, wanted further information. So instead of a meeting on Thursday last week to make a final decision, a private meeting was held with members asked to agree the wording of the recommendations to be made to the local health boards. Montgomeryshire’s Senedd member Russell George said there had been an “appalling” lack of transparency over the process, which he described as “shambolic”. The final decision will now be taken by the new NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee at a meeting held in public on April 23. The new committee was established on Monday, replacing the joint committee of the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee. l Crucial – Page 4
Price £1.30
Pub will be opening up its doors again
The owners of a closed pub have announced they’re opening up the doors again. The Fforest Inn at Llanfihangel Nant Melan closed just over a year ago. The inn has been owned by Nicky and Colin Williams for almost a decade. But they had to take the heart-breaking decision to close it in February 2023 due to escalating energy costs. Now they have announced they will be reopening on April 26. Nicky said: “We owe it to ourselves and the building to give it another go.” l Determined – Page 7
Make big splash at town’s leisure centre
Youngsters are being invited to make a splash this weekend in Rhayader. The town council has funded weekend Fun Splash sessions for the Easter holidays at the leisure centre. Youngsters will be able to enjoy the fun sessions tomorrow (Saturday) from 12.30pm to 1.30pm and on Sunday from 11am to noon, free of charge. There will be a maximum of 35 people per session. For more information call 01597 810355 or email rhayader@free dom-leisure.co.uk
Motown tribute set to take to the stage Presteigne and Norton Mayor Councillor Beverley Baynham, left, was presented with the prestigious sustainability award by Lyn Cadwallader, the chief executive of One Voice Wales, watched by town clerk Tracey Price
Sustainability project proved to be bright idea Presteigne and Norton Town Council has won a sustainability award. It secured the best sustainability initiative prize at the One Voice Wales Conference. Town clerk Tracey Price submitted the town’s Dark Skies Project for the award. Presteigne and Norton Mayor Councillor Beverley
Baynham gave a presentation on it at the conference. She said the project aimed to introduce the latest LED lighting and control technology, enhance the night-time character, experience and historic architecture of the town, minimise light pollution, and enable the town to acquire Dark
Sky Community status. Councillor Baynham said: “We were delighted to receive the award, and thank the many people involved, including Leigh Harling-Bowen, Kerem Asfuroglu of Dark Source for his time, expertise and help, and Powys County Council’s highways department.”
+Receive Free Road Side Assistance
The Legends of Motown, a high energy tribute show, will be at a Llandrindod Wells venue tomorrow (Saturday). The show will be at the Albert Hall at 7.30pm. A spokesperson said: “Undoubtedly the golden era of music, the show pays tribute to the legendary artists that appeared on the Motown label.” Tickets are £20 for adults and £16 for under 16s and there is unreserved seating so people can sit where they like. People can book at ticketsource. co.uk or call 0300 102 4255.