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Nov 2024
Yorkshire Air Ambulance to create new northern base near Ripon
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has taken a vital step towards creating a new Northern Air Support Unit on the edge of the Harrogate district.
After years of searching for a suitable site, it has agreed to buy land on the outskirts of Skipton-on-Swale, six miles north-east of Ripon.
The new base, just three-and-a-half miles from its current base at RAF Topcliffe, will be a purpose-built version of YAA's Nostell Air Support Unit near Wakefield.
For over a decade, YAA has operated as a tenant at RAF Topcliffe, and although it has benefitted from the support of the Royal Air Force, the British Army’s 4th Regiment Royal Artillery and the local community, the charity has for some time hoped to establish a purpose-built base of its own.
An architect's impression of how the new base might look
Mike Harrop, chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said:
The development of a permanent Northern Air Support Unit will provide us with a stable, purpose-built base to conduct our missions and highlights the progress we’ve made as a charity over the years. While this project is still in its early stages, it represents our commitment to providing the very best resources for our crews and patients across Yorkshire.
The opportunity to design, build, and own this air support unit will enable the charity to focus on delivering value for money and exceptional critical care to the people of Yorkshire, while maintaining our central presence in North Yorkshire – minimising response times and ensuring we can be there for those who need us most.
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Skipton-on-Swale is strategically located for YAA, as it will be able to reach any part of the region from the new base within 20 minutes to answer calls to cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, sporting injuries and other serious incidents.
With the planning application submission imminent, YAA have been engaging locally with Skipton-on-Swale Parish Council, North Yorkshire Council, and other local stakeholders.
Mr Harrop added:
This project marks an exciting new chapter for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which would not be possible without the generous fundraising and ongoing support from our loyal supporters and the wider community, whose contributions are vital to sustaining our lifesaving work.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance operates a fleet of advanced Airbus H145 helicopters, serving a population of five million people across four million acres. The charity relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters, as every mission is funded by public donations.
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