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Ambulance closure fear in Braemar Ambulance closure fear in Braemar
(about 2 hours later)
The Scottish Ambulance Service is considering closing down its Braemar depot, BBC Scotland can reveal.The Scottish Ambulance Service is considering closing down its Braemar depot, BBC Scotland can reveal.
Paramedics there serve the local ski centre and mountain rescue team, but their office is badly needing repairs which could cost thousands of pounds.Paramedics there serve the local ski centre and mountain rescue team, but their office is badly needing repairs which could cost thousands of pounds.
One option is to shut it down and have crews operating out of Ballater, which is about 20 miles away.One option is to shut it down and have crews operating out of Ballater, which is about 20 miles away.
A second proposal being considered is sharing the local fire station. A meeting is being held on Monday night.A second proposal being considered is sharing the local fire station. A meeting is being held on Monday night.
National drive
Ambulance crews at Braemar are currently operating out of the Fife Arms Hotel in the village.Ambulance crews at Braemar are currently operating out of the Fife Arms Hotel in the village.
The three-man team works with both the Glenshee Ski Centre and the local mountain rescue team.
There are people coming here at all times of the year that require the service if things go wrong John MacphersonBraemar Community CouncilThere are people coming here at all times of the year that require the service if things go wrong John MacphersonBraemar Community Council
They are not allowed into their own station because of a major water leak.They are not allowed into their own station because of a major water leak.
Repairing the building is an option for the service, but it could cost several thousand pounds and a spokesman told BBC Scotland that there may be more cost-effective solutions.Repairing the building is an option for the service, but it could cost several thousand pounds and a spokesman told BBC Scotland that there may be more cost-effective solutions.
The three-man team at Braemar works with both the Glenshee Ski Centre and the local mountain rescue team. The service is looking at a proposal to merge shift rotas in the Braemar, Ballater and Aboyne areas. If this goes ahead, it would possibly mean the closure of the Braemar facility.
The chairman of the community council, John Macpherson, fears moving them out of the village could pit lives at risk. This is part of a national drive to eliminate on-call working, meaning more staff covering the area in the hope of improved response times, even if ambulances had to come from further away.
He said: "We are out on a limb. You must remember that this is a centre for mountain activities and outdoor activities. Community concerns
The chairman of the community council, John Macpherson, said: "We are out on a limb. You must remember that this is a centre for mountain activities and outdoor activities.
"There are people coming here at all times of the year that require the service if things go wrong.""There are people coming here at all times of the year that require the service if things go wrong."
The Scottish Ambulance Service is sending a representative to Monday night's community council meeting to discuss the issue.The Scottish Ambulance Service is sending a representative to Monday night's community council meeting to discuss the issue.
A spokesman said whatever decision was taken, ambulance cover would not be removed from Braemar. A spokesman stressed whatever decision was taken, ambulance cover would not be removed from Braemar.
The service insists it will be listening carefully to community concerns and taking these into account before making any decisions.