West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy intervenes over ‘frustrating’ delay to Barton Mills ambulance depot’s new electricity sub-station

An MP has intervened to speed up a delayed project to upgrade an ambulance service depot.

West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy is contacting West Suffolk Council to try and resolve the hold-up to achieving a new electricity substation at Barton Mills ambulance depot, run by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

Planning approval for a new electricity substation was secured in October 2022, but Mr Timothy said work had been held up over a land issue.

More recently, the trust applied to West Suffolk Council to build a new garage and four EV charging bays at the station by the Fiveways roundabout, in Barton Mills, near Mildenhall.

After visiting the Barton Mills depot last week, Mr Timothy is writing to West Suffolk Council’s planning department to ask whether it can help resolve the hold-up.

Mr Timothy said: “The team at Barton Mills are working day in and day out to keep ambulances in good condition while doing all they can to implement the NHS target.

“The depot needs a new substation so it can get on with electrifying the ambulance fleet. It’s frustrating that this work has been delayed for so long.

“I am writing to West Suffolk Council to ask what can be done to resolve this. I also hope that the more recent planning proposals can be approved quickly.”

Neill Moloney, chief executive of the EEAST, said: “Installing an electrical substation at our Barton Mills depot is crucial to our ability to introduce more electric vehicles and meet the NHS net zero target.

“I’d like to thank Nick Timothy for his assistance in raising the issue with the local authority.”

West Suffolk Council was approached for comment.