Campaigners across Harborough are celebrating the saving of Market Harborough Ambulance Station. Against all odds EMAS announced that the unit that

serves Market Harborough and the surrounding villages is to be saved. Lib Dem Leader on Harborough District Council Phil Knowles who, along with Cllr Sarah Hill refused to accept the closure was a done deal and continued to campaign to save the unit has labelled the announcement - a victory for common sense!

''We put forward a well reasoned argument and questioned the validity of the original suggestion by EMAS to consider the closing of the unit. The geographical lay out, the area served, the travel times for crews to get to vehicles and clean down times were just some of the concerns we raised. I urged the CEO of EMAS to come to Harborough and explain the argument for considering closure, it was an invitation I extended on numerous occasions - it was an invitation he personally never accepted.

Yes EMAS as a body did eventually respond to my invitation and send representatives to a public meeting but the arguments they put forward we felt were unconvincing. After a hard fought campaign we are pleased that EMAS has listened to the case we put forward and that the Ambulance Station in Harborough will be kept open and who knows, maybe even the subject of future investment, afterall - Harborough is growing so we need to protect and enhance the support structure rather than seeing it reduced'' - Phil Knowles