VILLAGERS in Bidford and Salford Priors are being asked to fight a decision made by the Department of Health to merge Warwickshire ambulance service with the West Midlands region.

Parish councillors are against the proposed merger, as they believe the Warwickshire ambulance service would be swallowed up in one super trust.

In a statement to The Journal, Salford Priors Parish Council attacked the proposed merger as this would be at the expense of patient care.

The parish council is asking residents to support Warwickshire Ambulance Service in fighting the decision.

In a message to parishioners they said: "Your voice has never been more important. We encourage as many friends and neighbours in the Parish to write to the Health Authority, before the March 22 deadline, and oppose this idea."

Although the decision to merge Warwickshire and Coventry ambulance service is yet is to be confirmed the county council are keen to hear residents views during the consultation period that runs until Wednesday, March 22. A web questionnaire has been set up by Warwickshire County Council so residents can give their views and will then be forwarded to the Strategic Health Authority, who will be responding to the government on the proposals.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, chairman of Warwickshire's health committee is keen to stress the consultation is being conducted by the Department of Health but villagers opinions will seriously considered.

Salford Priors councillor Tony Wolfe said: "Our ambulance service in Warwickshire is a three star trust. It's financially sound and achieves an ambulance to patient response time of nineteen minutes in 96 per cent of all its 999 calls.

"Compare that to the West Midlands service. They have a £3million deficit, and don't achieve anywhere near Warwickshire's targets and is rated a one star service."

Bidford councillors felt merging the service would lower standards and reduce efficiency. They also expressed concern on the use of a call centre, which would result in poor local knowledge, hence a delay in attending sites which would mean putting patients lives at risk.

Bidford parish clerk Elisabeth Uggerloese has written a letter expressing the council's opposition.