Plans submitted for new air ambulance base

WILTSHIRE Air Ambulance has applied for planning permission to build its brand new headquarters in Semington, which would enable the entire charity to be based in one place and the helicopter to reach any part of Wiltshire in just 11 minutes.

The operations centre is proposed to be built on over 12 acres of land at Outmarsh Farm, Semington, to the south of Melksham police station.

Mandy Clarke, chairman of Wiltshire Air Ambulance said, “Our public consultation was overwhelmingly positive and reaffirmed our view that the Outmarsh Farm site is our preferred location.

“The farm is centrally located in Wiltshire, which would enable our helicopter to reach all parts of the county within 11 minutes.

“As Melksham does not have an ambulance station, we believe that Wiltshire Air Ambulance would provide enhanced medical cover for the area. As well as responding in our helicopter, our paramedics use a rapid response car to attend medical emergencies including road traffic collisions, heart attacks and strokes.

“Our proposed new home would be a purpose built, future proof facility for our helicopter, aircrew and charity staff.”

Currently the helicopter and aircrew are based at a hangar at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes, while the charity team is based at offices in Calne. The leases for both sites will run out in the winter of 2017/18.

The application shows the intention to minimise the impact of the helicopter, which is on call 19 hours a day, on the surrounding community. Three flight paths have been suggested out of the site; two to the west to avoid flying over Berryfield and Semington, and one to the east to avoid Bowerhill. These areas would be no-fly zones, and there would be tree planting around the base to provide a natural barrier.

The charity says it will try to use local building materials, local contractors, and bring employment to the area.

If the outline application is approved, detailed plans would be submitted in the new year and construction could begin at the end of 2016 to ready the base for operation in 2017.

To see the application enter 15/10766/OUT in the planning search at www.wiltshire.gov.uk

To find out more about the charity go to www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk