BORDON could be home to a new "satellite" ambulance station, as part of a Hampshire Ambulance Trust strategy. The trust's estate strategy could see several of Hampshire's 19 stations being closed as part of a "hub and spoke' approach. This scheme would have three main depots - Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke - which would control eight "satellite stations" and number of standby points across the county. Bordon has been earmarked as a potential home for one of the new stations, as well as the neighbouring town of Petersfield. The station would provide all the usual facilities of an ambulance station, such as adequate parking and toilets as well as a canteen. The trust's new strategy would reduce the number of ambulance workshops from four to one, with mobile mechanics who would provide day-to-day care of the vehicles. The current station in Alton could be scrapped as a result of the proposals. It is hoped that the estates strategy would provide greater flexibility in service, providing, and improving, the skill mix of ambulance crews to ensure the appropriate level of care for patients. Michelle Ullett of Hampshire Ambulance Trust said that Bordon was certainly an option for a new station, but she assured residents that this move would not impact on patients in Hampshire. The "satellite" stations, which will be kitted out with everything that can be found in smaller stations, would either take over existing stations or be newly built in areas which don't house one already. It has also been announced that the trust will merge with its Thames Valley counterpart to form a South Central 999 service, which conforms to targets which will reduce the number of trusts from 29 to 12 across the country. There has been much criticisism of the move, but supporters have said that it will mean more funding for front-line services. Mrs Ullett said that the merger would not change the estates strategy plan. "Nothing will change for patients. We will still be answering their calls," she said. "It will not be a case of people coming from up and down the country - everything will still be local." Tony Barron, the Hampshire Ambulance Trust chairman, backed these claims. He dismissed fears that control centres would move out of the county as being "total rubbish". However, an ambulance union representative said: "We have lost the county identity, Everybody will try to make sure it works, but we will be flying blind."
