AMBULANCE chiefs last night rejected claims they had done a "secret U-turn'' to close rural stations in the face of public opposition.

Documents obtained by The Northern Echo show that the North-East Ambulance Service has included the sale of stations in Hartlepool and St John's Chapel and Middleton-in-Teesdale, in County Durham, in its financial plans.

People living in both areas have protested about the plans, which they fear will affect people in isolated areas and put lives at risk.

Following protests, the stations were given a temporary reprieve last autumn when a system giving both areas 24-hour rather than 12-hour cover began a year's trial.

However, Durham County councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, has papers that show closures are planned for the 2008-9 financial year with two of the sites forecast to raise £60,000 each.

He said: "It will put lives at risk. The station at St John's Chapel was built by public subscription in 1933 and was put there so isolated communities could be reached.

"They have tried to do a secret U-turn and not involve the public, but it has leaked out.''

The North-East Ambulance Trust's director of finance and performance, Roger French, insisted nothing had been decided.

"There is no attempt to pre-suppose anything. It is a planning document," he said.

"The intention in Weardale is to move, subject to a review by the County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT), to the location of the population in Stanhope rather than be at St John's Chapel, working from the community hospital. Because the majority of the population is there, most of the incidents occur there.

"There is no intention to reduce the level of service for Weardale. It has been increased to 24 hours - it was a 12-hour service with people on standby.

"It is the PCT's final decision because they are paying. This is a working model.''

A trust spokeswoman said the system under trial would end the "out-dated practice'' of giving standby ambulance cover.

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