EVERYONE has been declared a winner after a deal was struck between Hampshire Ambulance Service and the Army to station ambulance crews at the Longmoor camp.
Hampshire Ambulance Service has announced its closer links with the Army in a bid to improve cover for Bordon which has been the subject of fierce criticism over the years.
Councillors in the town and in neighbouring parishes have been joined by local people in expressing concern over the times that ambulances are taking to reach critically ill patients in the Bordon area.
Last Friday Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Forestal, commanding officer of the Longmoor camp, met with director of operations for the service, Gerry Wilkinson, to officially launch a new scheme which, it is hoped, will improve the situation.
The Army has agreed to provide facilities for ambulance vehicles and crews with a standby point at Longmoor.
Hampshire Ambulance says that crews will be based "at this strategic position any time of the day or night" which will mean that crews will be in a prime position to attend emergencies both in Bordon and along the A3.
This is an alternative to the current situation were ambulance crews park at the Ham Barn roundabout when they are not responding to an emergency call or come from further afield such as Basingstoke.
Spokeswoman Liz Rees said: "It will provide safe parking for vehicles, together with rest room facilities for the ambulance crews, ensuring that they are able to rest and make refreshments before returning to their stressful duties - responding to 999 calls."
Mr Wilkinson said that the new arrangements with the Army were great news for Bordon and its surrounding villages.
"We are very grateful to the Army and Lieutenant Colonel Forestal for generously providing these facilities which will mean an even better service to patients in the Bordon area," he said.
Whitehill town councillors Basil Smith and town clerk Linda Tiley were also at Longmoor last week for the official launching of the agreement.
Basil Smith said that the new arrangements meant that "everyone is a winner".
He said: "The residents in Bordon are winners, the ambulance crews are winners and the Army are winners and I think that this is a wonderful idea.
"The ambulance crews have now got somewhere to go and proper facilities and this should mean that an ambulance should be able to get here within seven minutes - in fact I asked the question and he said that they could get here in six minutes.
"I do have to say that I was surprised when I heard about this arrangement but it is really pleasing to know that a purely civilian service is being given the help of the services and I think that this is the right way to go."