An upgrade to a local ambulance service depot has been delayed despite planning permission being granted well over two years ago.
Barton Mills ambulance depot, run by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, secured planning approval for a new electricity sub-station in October 2022.
Yet the work has been held up because the owner of neighbouring land is withholding consent to start construction. More recently, the trust applied to West Suffolk Council to a build a new garage and four EV charging bays.
After visiting the Barton Mills depot on Thursday 2 January 2025, Nick Timothy MP — the MP for West Suffolk — is writing to West Suffolk District Council’s planning department to ask whether they can help resolve the hold-up.
Mr Timothy said: “The team at Barton Mills are working day in and day out to keep ambulances in good condition while doing all they can to implement the NHS target.
“The depot needs a new sub-station so it can get on with electrifying the ambulance fleet. It’s frustrating that this work has been delayed for so long.
“I am writing to West Suffolk Council to ask what can be done to resolve this. I also hope that the more recent planning proposals can be approved quickly.”
[See coverage of this story on 10 January 2025 in Suffolk News by clicking here or viewing the article scan below].
