THERE has been a lot of publicity recently about the difficulties people are finding in getting to the new medical centre for Bidford.

I wasn't surprised, as I always thought that a centre so far out of the village might present access problems. That's why I pushed for the centre to be on Friday Furlong, actually in Bidford itself.

Going on to the medical centre website last weekend I found a banner headline across the top of the page: 'We now have temporary bus stops in situ outside the surgery. However, we do not recommend their use at the moment due to safety issues.

"We are still doing surgeries in the village for those unable to access the surgery in any other way".

I regularly receive complaints from residents about problems getting to the centre.

Perhaps we could be told by the councillors who supported the 'out of town' site how these dangers are going to be overcome, and when?

Some years ago, when people from Barton and Welford had difficulty reaching the surgery, Dr Cavanagh arranged for a special bus, and appointments at the surgery were coordinated with the bus timetable.

It’s a great shame that at the moment some of those with the greatest need for treatment are among those who have the greatest difficulty getting to the surgery.

Perhaps a temporary bus service could be laid on one day a week with disabled access, until things are sorted out on a permanent basis.

Cllr Peter Barnes

Stratford District Council