Public Footpath Access and Safety Concerns – Badbury Park to Great Western Hospital

To:
Heidi Alexander MP
Member of Parliament for Swindon South
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

heidi.alexander.mp@parliament.uk

Cc:

• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Swindon Borough Council (Rights of Way Officer)
• Local Ward Councillors (Old Town & East Wichel)
• Local Building and Development Companies

Subject: Accessibility and Safety Concerns – Public Footpath Between Badbury Park and Great Western Hospital

Dear Ms Alexander MP,

I am writing on behalf of residents of Badbury Park to raise serious concerns about the public footpath linking the estate with Great Western Hospital (GWH). This path is a vital connection for hospital staff, visitors, and residents, many of whom work at GWH or use the hospital bus terminal for travel.

Although the path was originally improved through grants from both GWH Trust and Swindon Borough Council, it remains inaccessible for wheelchair users, parents with prams or buggies, and unsafe for pedestrians at night due to the lack of lighting and poor surfacing. The path is jointly owned by the hospital trust and carries a public right of way, making it a shared responsibility to maintain accessibility and safety for all users.

Key accessibility and safety issues:

1. No ramp for wheelchairs or mobility aids, forcing disabled users to find longer, less direct routes.
2. Steps connecting the upper and lower levels are not accessible and breach basic accessibility standards.
3. A short section of ballast (loose stone) prevents wheelchairs and prams from passing safely.
4. A new lower path was designed and agreed with the GWH Trust, offering a practical and low-cost solution — however, the Trust has stated that it currently lacks the funding to proceed.
5. A local company had volunteered to complete the work free of charge, but administrative and ownership issues at GWH have delayed or prevented progress.

This situation disproportionately affects disabled residents, parents with young children, and hospital staff — many of whom finish late shifts and face security risks walking along an unlit and uneven path at night.

We respectfully request your support to:

• Raise this issue with the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Swindon Borough Council, urging them to prioritise accessibility improvements.
• Seek any potential government or local transport grants to help deliver the new lower accessible path.
• Encourage cross-agency cooperation to resolve any remaining ownership or liability concerns, so that work can proceed quickly and safely.

This improvement would not only fulfil legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 but also demonstrate a commitment to supporting NHS workers, vulnerable residents, and sustainable local transport links.

We would greatly appreciate your intervention or guidance on how to ensure this essential pathway becomes safe, inclusive, and accessible for everyone in our community.

Thank you for your time and continued support for the people of Swindon.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Eves
On behalf of Badbury Park Residents Working Group