SPT has provided three new bus shelters to Ayr University and Ailsa Hospitals at the request of the local bus users group, to improve public transport for users to the hospitals.

The initial request was for a bus shelter at the day care unit however SPT then upgraded the other two stops on the hospitals site to ensure they were all of a similar high standard.

SPT’s active travel planner Clare Strain said: “We have an excellent working partnership with NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Ayrshire Roads Alliance and are pleased to work with them to provide quality bus infrastructure and encourage and promote bus transport to the hospitals for both staff and patients.

“These accessible new shelters will make life more pleasant for bus users.”

Ayrshire and Arran’s Director for Corporate Support Services John Wright said: “We are committed to encouraging people to use public transport as an alternative means of travel.

“We were delighted to work in partnership with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which funded the upgrading of existing bus shelters at University Hospital Ayr and Ailsa Hospital, for our staff, visitors and patients. In addition, we now have a new bus shelter at the Day Surgery Unit, following requests from patients and members of the public.”

Head of Roads, within the Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Stewart Turner said: “The Ayrshire Roads Alliance has been working with SPT to upgrade bus shelters throughout South Ayrshire.  With the support of NHS Ayrshire and Arran the improvement programme was extended to include the Ayr University and Ailsa Hospitals’ campus.

“The upgrades to the bus shelters greatly improve the facilities available to those travelling to and from the hospital by public transport. It is also hoped that the improvements will encourage people to leave their car at home and take public transport in future.”