Farron calls for better bus access to Westmorland General Hospital

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Jul 2010

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on Cumbria Highways and hospital management to work together to provide better bus access on the 567 service to Westmorland General Hospital for blind and partially sighted patients.

The 567 bus service from Kirkby Lonsdale comes down Burton Road and is the only bus service to approach the hospital from that direction. However, as the bus is often a double decker, it is unable to turn into the hospital site and so leaves passengers on the roadside which means they then have to cross the busy A65.

Local charity South Lakes Society for the Blind (SLSB) have raised concerns about this situation because it is very hard for blind and partially sighted people to cross the road to the hospital safely.

Speaking today Tim said, "I want Cumbria Highways and hospital managers to go away and look at this issue and offer a solution to deal with the transport issues at Westmorland General Hospital. I am glad to join the campaign run by SLSB and I want to make sure all patients get full access to basic services. I look forward to seeing the plans in due course and working with SLSB to make sure they are suitable for local residents."