Extend Bus Route to Heath House Lane, Stapleton, Bristol

Health House Lane is located in a quiet suburb of Stapleton. In addition to dwelling accommodation, there are two important institutions here namely an NHS facility and a Private popular Adult Mental Health Hospital. Both serve clients and public and both employ a large number of professional and non-professional staffs. There is significant human traffic into the area by services users, their families and friends and staff who provide essential services.

I have been working with the private hospital for over 3 years. In my first two years I had no means of personal transport. I experienced firsthand the difficulty and potential dangers of walking to the hospital. The main bus route is about 2 miles away from site – which is situated on a hill. During the winter months it can get dark and dangerous. There have been recorded incidents of vandalism, kerb crawling and attempted assault and muggings to staff and other members of the public.

It is my firm belief that extending a bus 4 or 5 route into Heath House Lane will create the following benefits:

1. For the staff: there will be less anxiety and psychological distress from the fear of crime. There will be less physical exhaustion from climbing the hill before engaging in their normal work.

2. For the Patients: they will not have to rely on the goodwill of friends, relatives or staff to get around to carry out simple tasks shopping in the city centre for items like newspapers or writing pads.

3. For Patient’s Relatives: they will enjoy increased number and regular visits to their loved ones without having to pay for expensive private taxis to shuttle them between the hospital and their homes or the local train station.

4. For the Community: it would mean increased accessibility to visitors, increased patronage to local business, safer neighbourhood, more revenue for the transport operator, better quality of life for the tax payer in general and better services to patients from reduced absenteeism.

5. Eco –benefit: with increased public transport accessibility, many staff may be more inclined to use public transport instead of their cars resulting in reduced carbon emission and cleaner Bristol.