PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on plans to make a hospital car park more accessible.

Plans have been submitted to West Dorset District Council for improvements to the car park and a new accessible ramp at Bridport Community Hospital.

It’s hoped the proposals, if given the go-ahead, will make it easier and safer for wheelchair users to get to the main entrance of the hospital from the car park. A bus stop will also be relocated as part of the plans, which were drawn up by Wimborne-based RLM Architects for Dorset Healthcare.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the plans reads: “RLLM Architects have been commissioned to design improvements to access the hospital entrance from the existing car park. The existing car park comprises of three distinct tiers so the addition of a new ramp is intended to make it easier and safer for wheelchair bound visitors to access the main entrance level of the car park. Part of the application is the relocation of the existing bus stop to a more convenient location and the re-provision and addition of accessible parking spaces.”

The ramp and the new parking spaces would be tarmac surfaced, to march the existing car parking areas.

The statement adds: “The new accessible ramp will greatly improve the access for wheelchair bound visitors through the centre of the car park.

The pedestrian access from the lower tiers of the car park to the east of the site will remain unaltered.”

Environmental Health and the Dorset County Council highways team were asked to give a response as part of a statutory consultation, but replied that they had no objections or comments to make.

In a response to the consultation, Allington Parish Council said councillors are concerned because the plan does not show where the bus stop will be moved to.

Members of the public are now invited to give their views. Any comments must be submitted by January 3. The plans will then be discussed by the West Dorset District Council’s planning committee, who will decide whether or not to grant approval. For more information about the proposals, and to make a comment, visit the Dorset councils partnership planning portal and search for application WD/D/17/002729