Plaid Cymru MP for Arfon, Hywel Williams has welcomed work to move a bus stop at Ysbyty Gwynedd closer to the hospital entrance, after concerns were raised about the distance many elderly people had to walk to catch the bus.
Both Hywel Williams MP and Arfon Assembly Member Alun Ffred Jones backed a campaign by constituent Jean Hughes of Caernarfon for the bus stop to be relocated closer to the hospital entrance, following repeated calls from local people that it was too far away and too secluded.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board confirmed work on the new bus stop begins this week and is expected to be completed by the end of January 2016.
Hywel Williams MP said: “When we saw the first the plan to put a bus stop at the present location many years ago, both Alun Ffred Jones and myself pointed out that the proposed site was open, windswept and far from the hospital front door. Many bus users are older people and some are disabled. Yet they were expected to walk some distance and cross the busy hospital roads.
“I’m pleased the Health Board have heeded local people and have considered the views of over two thousand people who signed a petition so that both patients and visitors benefit from this muchneeded improvement. This new bus stop will remove the need for people to cross two busy roads to get to and from Ysbyty Gwynedd.
“I hope the new layout will make it much easier for people to access Ysbyty Gwynedd safely.”
Alun Ffred Jones AM added: “This is great news, especially for those who’ve campaigned long and hard to have this shelter relocated to a much more convenient location closer to the hospital. I have been in correspondence with the health board for a couple of years now on behalf of my constituent Jean Hughes who has been at the forefront of the campaign.
“I look forward to the new layout and hope it will help those using the bus stop to Ysbyty Gwynedd, especially the elderly and disabled.”
