Wolverhampton ambulance bases to close

Four ambulance bases in Wolverhampton will close, with their crews moved to nearby fire stations, it was announced today.

Ambulance stations in Bilston, Fallings Park, Penn and Tettenhall will shut in cost-saving measures.

It is hoped the sale of the stations will generate up to £835,000. A fifth ambulance station in West Bromwich is also being put on the market as part of the plans.

Ambulance service bosses today stressed that the current level of cover across the Black Country will be maintained.

The move will see Bilston ambulance base in Hare Street replaced with a community ambulance station within the town's fire station in Prosser Street. The ambulance building is up for sale for around £150,000.

The ambulance station in Park Lane on Fallings Park Industrial Estate is now on the market for around £80,000. It will be replaced with a new facility at the local fire base.

Penn ambulance station in Marston Road, now on the market for £145,000, will be replaced at the fire station in Merridale Street.

Crews will move from the Tettenhall ambulance station in Regis Road to a new facility at the village's nearby fire station. The ambulance building is on the market for £225,000.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Chris Kowalik said: "The new community ambulance stations will be leased at a fraction of the costs associated with the currently owned buildings. The savings made on these buildings will be channelled into the frontline ambulance service instead."

Meanwhile, the West Bromwich ambulance station in Hargate Lane will be replaced by a community ambulance base at the town's fire station.