A Perthshire village could soon have a landing strip for an air ambulance thanks to months of campaigning.
First Response manager Alan Moffat hopes his proposal to create a designated site at Comrie’s Laggan Park will be given the green light by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The project already has the backing of the local community council, Strathearn councillor Anne Younger and Perthshire MSP Roseanna Cunningham.
If it gets the go-ahead, emergency helicopters will be able to touch down as early as April.
A total of six emergency lifts were made last year but Mr Moffat believes the number would have more than doubled had there been the facilities.
”Rural communities like Comrie need such a service it can mean the difference between life and death,” Mr Moffat said. ”We are more than an hour to Ninewells, which is the main receiving hospital for emergencies in the area, and sometimes that is just too long.
”Air ambulances take a fraction of the time and we want to ensure they can be used whenever necessary.”
Mr Moffat, who is also a retained firefighter, gave a presentation on the latest developments at Comrie Fire Station on Monday, followed by a site visit. As well as local politicians, members of Tayside Fire and Rescue and the Scottish Ambulance Service were in attendance.
He continued: ”It was a very positive meeting everyone recognises the need for this service and wants to move it forward as quickly as is possible. We visited Laggan Park and it was agreed that it was the best option, both cost and location-wise.
”At the moment helicopters can land during the day but there is a need for them to be able to do safely at night. Tayside Fire and Rescue would lay out the landing guide lights should the need for them arise at any point.”
First Response is aiming to meet the £2,000 needed to purchase landing lights through sponsorship.
Tayside Fire and Rescue currently provides a similar service in Kinloch Rannoch.
Community councillor Gill Brock said the service had the full support of local residents and could make a ”huge” difference for severely injured or desperately ill patients.
Ms Cunningham, who is minister for community safety, said: ”I think this is an excellent proposal from Alan Moffat and the First Responders. Their commitment to broadening the emergency response available to the people of Comrie is absolutely fantastic.”
She added: ”I have already been in touch with the Scottish Ambulance Service, the health minister and others regarding this and I will continue to do what I can to push this idea forward.”