EAAA launches community consultation on new Cambridge Air Base

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has launched a community consultation for its new Cambridge air base prior to the submission of an application to South Cambridgeshire District Council. The consultation will include a drop-in session at Townley Memorial Hall in Fulbourn from 15:00–19:00 hrs on 3 September.

Safeguarding the service

The charity, which receives no regular government funding and relies almost entirely on public donations, has been searching for a new home for its Cambridge-based operation following the announcement of the planned closure of Cambridge Airport. A new base will safeguard the continuity of East Anglian Air Ambulance’s lifesaving service, ensuring its crews can continue to be there for the thousands of people across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Norfolk who need urgent critical care each year. It will also enable much-needed improvements in clinical training, crew welfare, aftercare facilities and community engagement, allowing the charity to evolve and expand to meet future critical care needs of the region.

Community consultation

The charity is seeking feedback from residents and other important local stakeholders on its plans. Information about the proposals can be found on the charity’s website, and comments can be submitted until 17 September.

Matthew Jones, CEO at East Anglian Air Ambulance, said:

“For 25 years, East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has been the difference between life and death for tens of thousands of people caught up in the most serious accidents and medical emergencies across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and beyond.

Since 2007, EAAA and the owners of Cambridge Airport, Marshall, have worked together to ensure that Anglia Two can swiftly attend local people in their moment of greatest need, and we are hugely grateful to them for their support over the last 18 years. However, due to the planned closure of the airport, EAAA must urgently, by 2027, relocate its Cambridge-based operation to be able to continue providing its vital service.

We have therefore been working extremely hard behind the scenes for the last 24 months to identify a suitable location for EAAA’s new Cambridge-based home which offers similar response times to our current base.

With a new home, we can continue to be there for the 1,000 people each year – nearly three people every day – who need our Cambridgeshire-based lifesaving service.

As we begin to progress a planning application for our proposed new base, we are committed to working openly and collaboratively with the local community. A programme of community consultation is already underway, providing local residents and other stakeholders with an opportunity to learn more about our plans, ask questions, and share their views.

We are engaging closely with neighbours, the local authority, and relevant partners to ensure that feedback is carefully considered as our proposals evolve. This ongoing dialogue is central to our approach and reflects our desire to be a considerate and responsible neighbour.”

Find out more information about the consultation event, view the draft plans and provide feedback.