AN AMBULANCE service has said they have no “imminent plans” to close a station in Shoebury after the community raised concerns.

Fears surfaced this week that the ambulance station in Campfield Road, Shoebury, would be closed in November as part of transformation plans by the East of England Ambulance Service, which admitted it was “reviewing” the station’s facilities.

Steven Wakefield, independent councillor for Shoebury, said he had been inundated with calls from concerned ward members.

Mr Wakefield said: “It’s a big concern for many of us given that we are planning on having the new health centre at the same location so it would seem silly to then close the ambulance station.

“People’s concerns are centred around waiting times - if Shoebury’s station was to close, there’s concerns people in places like Great Wakering will be waiting for excessive amounts of time if they needed an ambulance.

“We are all very concerned that they are going to move it and we are looking into it in the hope of getting some answers from the trust.”

Tricia Cowdrey, a Labour campaigner from Shoebury, said: “There are two ambulances based there which would move to Southend.

“We have an ever increasing population in Shoebury and Great Wakering and a high proportion of both older people and young children all of whom will be placed at risk.

“This land is held on a covenant for use in supporting the health issues of the people of Shoebury and we should have a say in how it is used.

“We need this decision to be reconsidered and the residents of the affected areas to be consulted before any future decisions are made which may be to the detriment of our community.”

The ambulance service has said while they are implementing an “estates transformation plan”, Shoebury is not set to be closed imminently.

A spokesman for the ambulance said: “The Trust has no imminent plans for disposing of any stations. We are currently implementing our Estates Transformation Plan, which aims to upgrade and improve the quality of our premises in readiness for the additional staff and the new fleet of ambulances we are commissioning across the region.

“Shoebury is currently being reviewed with regard to exploring ways to increase the quality and capacity of the facilities.”