Poor parking gives Oswestry patients a headache
Disabled and elderly people are finding their route to an Oswestry health centre and doctors' surgery blocked by drivers.
Patients attending the Oswestry Primary Care Centre or Cambrian Surgery on the Gobowen Road can use a path that takes them from the town centre and across the Wilfred Owen Park straight to the complex.
But those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters then find they can't get off the pathway to cross the access road to the centre because cars are being parked half on and half off the pavement.
Many have had no choice but to re-trace their journeys and instead use the often busy footpath on the main Gobowen Road, making themselves late for appointments.
After being approached by the Oswestry Access Group, town mayor, Councillor Paul Milner, has urged drivers parking at the centre not to park on the pavement.
And he says they also need to ensure that the dropped kerb is not blocked.
He says that with the complex earmarked as a potential site for an upgraded, urgent care centre for the area, parking will have to be taken into consideration.
"The path that runs along the side of Sainsbury's, across Coney Green and then through the Wilfred Owen green is an ideal route for people visiting the centre," Councillor Milner said.
"As well as the surgery there is also the minor injury unit in the building. People I have spoken to say that the facility is excellent and the care from the staff is second to none.
"But inconsiderate drivers are making life very hard for patients who have mobility scooters, wheelchairs and even those with pushchairs."
He said cars parked with one wheel on the pavement meant that it was too narrow for the scooters and wheelchairs to travel along.
"It means that they can't get to the dropped kerb further up the pavement."
He brought up the problem at a Health 4 Oswestry meeting in the town yesterday.
"I was assured that there would be an overall look at parking at the centre would be investigated," he said.
The mayor is calling for an urgent care centre for Oswestry to be part of the re-organisation of health services for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
He has already launched a petition calling for the proposed new emergency care centre for the region to be based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
