Low floor bus hope for hospital route

9:00am Thursday 20th November 2008

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A LOW floor bus is being introduced on a key hospital route, according to a Ludlow councillor.

Vivienne Parry, Lib Dem County Councillor for Ludlow Rural, has been told that Arriva will introduce the buses after representations from her on behalf of people who need to take the bus to hospital in Shrewsbury.

“A number of residents from Ludlow with mobility difficulties have treatment at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital,” said Coun Parry.

“Those travelling by public transport have faced difficulties on the Shrewsbury end of the trip due to the lack of low floor buses.

"One old lady I know travels from Ashford Carbonell, changing buses twice.

“On the first two stages of the journey she has a low floor bus that she can easily enter. However, on the last stage from the town centre to the hospital, she’s had to struggle on an old-style bus with all the discomfort that entails.

“I wrote a fortnight ago to Arriva pointing out that dozens of patients, from all over the county, use this service daily, many with mobility difficulties.

“I suggested this, of all routes, should be given priority for low floor buses.”

She has now been told by the bus company that it understands the problem and will look to put low floor buses on the number 22 route – hopefully in the new year.

“It might seem a small thing but it means a lot to people with mobility difficulties who might be feeling quite stressed about going to hospital in the first place,” added Coun Parry.