Judicial review for 999 closure

The trust's chief executive and chairman at the meeting earlier

Campaigners trying to stop the closure of an ambulance call centre have started proceedings for a judicial review into the matter.

West Midlands Ambulance Service announced plans to close its Bransford control centre in Worcestershire, along with one in Shropshire, in November.

Protesters have served a "letter before claim" to the service, giving it two weeks to respond.

If it does not reverse the decision, the matter will go to the High Court.

'Faster response times'

The ambulance service has said that it would phase in the closures with checks to ensure rural areas were not left without emergency vehicles.

It has also said the move will speed up response times and allow it to get more out of staff at the larger sites.

Richard Burt, a prospective parliamentary candidate for West Worcestershire, said it would be "a tragedy" if local teamwork and experience was lost by closing Bransford and moving operations to Brierley Hill.

"We want to get a fair hearing of all the alternatives and a decision that is right for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the rest of the West Midlands," he said.

Staff member Liz Kabani said staff at the control centre were delighted the matter was going to a judicial review.