AN elderly man's ten-year campaign to have accessible buses on routes that serve Doncaster Royal Infirmary has finally paid off.
Ken Lambert, 84, has petitioned for low-floor buses on routes 81 and 82 but says his pleas fell on deaf ears at bus company First.
Mr Lambert, of Sandcliffe Road, met Rosie Winterton, the Doncaster Central MP and Transport Minister, last October
to make his case.
He was delighted to receive a letter from First three months on to say the buses will be introduced this spring and keen to praise Miss Winterton for her intervention.
Mr Lambert said: "My wife is disabled and she's been disabled for ten years and I also had a hip operation about the same time and when I had my operation I found it was very difficult to go on the hospital buses.
"I have been to different organisations to try and change the bus and then I saw Rosie Winterton and she took it up with First. She managed to deal with the bus company in a couple of weeks whereas I've been trying for ten years."
Mr Lambert explained that the bus is the only one on the route to town that stops at the hospital.
He added: "I have been to all the councillors over the years and they tried and had drawn a blank with the bus companies. I just want to show my appreciation for Rosie. I am so delighted that someone has finally listened."
A spokesman for First explained that by the end of May more than 80 per cent of buses operating in the Doncaster area would be accessible, thanks to a massive investment programme. Each accessible bus costs £170,000, he added.
The buses, which run from the town centre past the hospital, are due to be introduced in June.
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