Park and ride routes ready for new Ludlow hospital

Changes have been made to Park and Ride routes around Ludlow to improve access to the town's planned £27 million hospital.

Shropshire Council cabinet member Martin Taylor-Smith, a former chairman of the League of Friends of Ludlow Hospital, said routes brought in over the past 18 months meant people living in all areas of the town would have easy access to the hospital when it opens at Ludlow Eco- Business Park in 2014.

He said the hospital would have a catchment of 35,000 people across south Shropshire and north Herefordshire, including 10,500 living in the Ludlow area.

Members of Ludford Parish Council are due to discuss detailed plans for the hospital at a meeting tonight, while designs for the site near the A49 bypass will also be presented to members of the League of Friends at their next meeting on February 8.

Last week the first images of the new hospital were released as part of plans which will go before Shropshire council planning officials over the next few months.

Councillor Taylor-Smith, ward member for Ludlow South, said: "Everyone involved is absolutely delighted with the plans. The new hospital looks exciting, innovative and state-of-the-art.

"The catchment area for the new hospital will take in some 35,000 people. About 10,500 of those live in or around Ludlow, and 6,000 of them probably live on estates to the east of the town which is where the new hospital will be.

"Over the past 18 months Park and Ride routes have been altered to take in areas such as Bromfield Road, going past the current hospital site on Gravel Hill and heading to Rocks Green. It means anyone in the Ludlow area will be able to access the hospital easily, which is one of the many benefits of its chosen location."

Officials from contractors Vinci Construction and Aedas Architects will be at the League of Friends meeting on February 8, at St Peter's Hall in Ludlow from 6.30pm.

By Peter Kitchen