WORK to improve pedestrian access to Melksham Hospital has been completed, bringing to an end a two-year campaign by local campaigner, Caroline Fielding.
A new pathway now enables pedestrians to walk to the wheelchair entrance of the hospital without having to walk through the car park.
Caroline, who is registered blind and relies on a guide dog, first raised her concerns about the ‘dangerous’ access to the hospital in February 2018, highlighting that there were no footpaths or safe areas for pedestrians to use to walk to the hospital from Spa Road.
She described the experience of accessing the hospital as similar to ‘stepping into a fairground dodgems ride,’ and demanded that NHS Property Services, who are responsible for the site, take action.
Work was completed at the hospital during the lockdown period. Caroline told Melksham News, “I haven’t been to the hospital since Covid, but it’s good to know that when I do go to the hospital again, it will be safer. Also, well done to Dave Huntley and his team at NHS Property Services for working with me to find a cost-effective way of making access to the hospital safer for everyone.
“And well done and thank you to Melksham News for all the support you gave me to get this done.”
Picture: Caroline and her guide dog Mike.
