Campaigners fighting to save the Welshpool Air Ambulance base have confirmed they have lodged a fresh appeal in their ongoing battle against the decision to shut the facility.

The Save Welshpool and Caernarfon Air Ambulance Bases Group said it was “incredibly disappointing” to lose its High Court bid earlier this summer, but has now taken the case to the Court of Appeal.

The campaigners were granted a judicial review last year, with hearings held in January and February. However, in June Mr Justice Turner ruled against them, saying he was “entirely satisfied” that the Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) - the body that approved the closure plans - had fully considered contributions from patient voice organisation Llais and followed its statutory duties.

The ruling cleared the way for plans announced in April 2024 to close the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases and replace them with a new centre in North Wales.

But campaigners insist the decision-making process was “flawed” and said they will pursue every available route to prevent the closures. They added it may not be the end of the road in terms of challenging the decision.

"A further appeal has now been made and the Court of Appeal will decide whether to grant permission for that appeal to proceed," they said.

"If permission is refused, it will bring an end to the case. If permission is granted, then the case will proceed to a hearing.

“From the outset we challenged the facts and reasons for change and questioned decision makers why they find it acceptable that 40 communities will receive a slower service and why it is reasonable to accept an increased unmet need in Mid & North Wales.

“We believe the proposals were based on flawed information, and that the process has been filled with bias, misinformation, and misdirection.”

The group also criticised so-called “mitigation” measures announced alongside the changes, including plans for extra rapid response vehicles in Mid and North Wales. They said they will hold decision-makers to account over assurances that no bases will close until these additional resources are in place.

The decision to close the bases was made in April 2024 following recommendations from the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS). The JCC approved the proposals by majority, although Powys Teaching Health Board opposed them.

The Wales Air Ambulance has consistently defended the move, arguing it is essential to address “unmet need, inequity and service underuse” across Wales. The charity has stressed that the changes are about improving response times and saving more lives, not removing services.

The charity said in 2023 and 2024, crews were unable to attend more than 550 serious incidents in Mid and North Wales between 8pm and 2am. It also highlighted that Welshpool crews went 84 days without seeing a patient in one 12-month period.

For now, campaigners say they remain determined to fight on.

“As a campaign group, we are continuing to pursue all avenues open to us to challenge the decision to close the two existing bases in Welshpool and Caernarfon,” they added.