A PETITION of more than 1,000 signatures protesting against the closure of Bromyard Ambulance Station has been handed to the NHS.

The town council raised the petition after plans to close the station and move it to Bromyard Community Hospital were announced late last year.

Mayor Gill Churchill handed the petition to Russell Hamilton, chief executive of the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust, at a meeting on Thursday, January 12.

Reporting back to town council at its Monday meeting, she said: "He assured us we wouldn't lose ambulances but said the trust was looking at the possibility of moving them to new garaging facilities at Bromyard Community Hospital or another location.

"If that is too costly, the ambulances will be left where they are."

Monday's town council meeting also heard new skating facilities for Bromyard youngsters could be in place within weeks.

Coun Pearl Briggs said the equipment would be put on the existing skateboarding area at the top of the playing field until conditions were dry enough to move it to the bottom of the field.

"We have planning permission and everything's going ahead," she said.

A new ramp, rail and skate boarding committee is being formed and will meet at the beginning of February. The meeting also heard new land at Bromyard Cemetery would be consecrated on Sunday (January 22), after the 10am service at St Peter's Church.

Councillors were reminded of a public meeting to discuss Bromyard's parish plan at the Bromyard Centre on Tuesday (January 24), at 7.30pm. Members agreed the council should pay £100 towards refreshments for the event.

This evening (Friday), Mrs Churchill will present a cheque for £1,700 raised by her mayor's charity activities to the Victoria Eye Unit at Herefordshire County Hospital. The money will fund a new ophthalmoscope.