The drop-off zone outside the main entrance at Royal Bolton Hospital will be temporarily closed this week. Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said the current drop off area would be unavailable until Friday, July 24 while 'essential surveys' were carried out for the imminent refurbishment of the main entrance.
Refurbishment Plans
The hospital is set to build an extension over the existing under-croft at the front of the main entrance area which currently acts as a drop-off area for patients and visitors. The temporary closure comes as a planning application 'to create a more inviting and usable public entrance for the hospital' is submitted.
Speaking about this week's temporary drop off point closure, a trust spokesperson said: “The bus stop outside the entrance will be available for people to use as a drop-off point during this time. Diversion signs will be in place to help. “As a result of these temporary changes, if you’re travelling to the hospital by bus from Plodder Lane, please use the bus stop outside H Block, just before the emergency department. The main entrance itself is still open as normal for people to access the hospital.
“We apologise for this temporary disruption whilst we carry out essential surveys for the development of our main entrance.”
New Drop-Off Area Proposed
Plans for a replacement drop-off area have been submitted to Bolton council within the past week. The trust is seeking permission to alter the area to the north of Redgate Way 'to create a more inviting and usable public entrance for the hospital'. The area of re-landscaping will remove the redundant under-croft vehicle access. To the south of Redgate Way, a new drop off area will be created for five vehicles, with wheelchair and pedestrian shelters provided.
Access to this area will be from Redgate Way via the newly created car park to the east. Exit from this area will be from the Chadwick car park before approaching the roundabout to the west. As part of the plan, existing bus stops on either side of Redgate Way will be removed following consultation with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The trust said that bus services will not be reduced, with several other bus stops within the hospital site retained.
The application states: “This proposal will both enhance the level of public realm in the area, whilst also reintroducing a functional vehicle drop-off system to the main entrance at the hospital.”
Wider Refurbishment Details
Previously approved changes to the main entrance include a flat roofed extension to expand the footprint of the building by an additional 735sqm of floorspace. The wider refurbishment of the hospital entrance includes improvements to the reception, waiting areas, hospital café and shop within the established site. Planners at the council will consider the new drop-off area proposals in the coming weeks.
