Time for 999 chief to resign

Once again Anthony Marsh, the CEO of West Midlands Ambulance Service, shows complete contempt for the very people he is supposed to represent.

During the consultation period regarding the closure of Shrewsbury's Control Centre, he has claimed repeatedly that he cares about, and will listen to, what the people of Shropshire say.

Now we see his true colours.

By choosing to exclude the views of 16,000 people on a technicality, we at last see just what kind of man is looking after our safety.

He had every opportunity over the past three months to advise the people who presented the petition that it was "too early" and would therefore not count. Instead he chose to keep it quiet until it was too late.

The reason, of course, is obvious.

How good would his report have looked for him, if, instead of showing 257 people for his proposals and 49 against, it had given the true figures of 257 for and 16,049 against?

I resigned from the ambulance service because I had no respect, trust or confidence in the executive.

Clearly this view has proved founded.

However, even I am staggered and shocked by this new level of disregard for the people of Shropshire.

I believe it is now time for the chief executive to do the decent thing and copy my example.

He, too, should resign.

Steve Jetley, Formerly of Shropshire Ambulance Service, Shrewsbury