Underpass to QMC a 'disgrace'
AN underpass leading to the Queen's Medical Centre has been branded "a disgrace" because of its poor lighting and lack of maintenance.
Residents and councillors say the walkway to the hospital underneath Derby Road needs major work.
But they have struggled to find out who is responsible for the subway opposite the QMC's main entrance.
The city council has now pledged to tackle the problems "as soon as possible".
Edmund Varney, chairman of Wollaton Park Residents' Association, says he is worried about security at the underpass.
He said: "The overall state of the underpass is a total disgrace – what a welcome to hospital visitors.
"There are steps that come down on to the site there with 12 lights that are not working.
"Those steps are dark and that is a health and safety hazard – and as you descend there are another eight lights not working.
"It is a disgrace to see it in that condition. It is a blight on the area."
The underpass is used by patients and visitors getting off the bus in Derby Road as well as by hospital workers.
When the Evening Post visited last week many of the lights on the ramps leading down from Derby Road were broken.
The walls were covered with cobwebs and graffiti and European election posters from June had still not been taken down.
Mr Varney has taken his own pictures of the underpass and sent them to Wollaton East councillors Tony Sutton and Dave Oldham.
Coun Sutton said he agreed the underpass was in a "poor condition".
He said: "There is a lot of graffiti and rubbish and the lights aren't working.
"It is a poor situation because the underpass is needed to cross a fairly busy road."
Coun Oldham said many residents were now using the pelican crossing to get over Derby Road instead.
He said: "It has been a problem for a long while now – and a lot of the residents who use it are unhappy.
"We are trying to find out who is responsible but we are hitting a brick wall all the time."
A hospital trust spokesman said: "The underpass outside QMC under Derby Road is the council's responsibility, although we work closely with them on its upkeep.
"We'll be talking to the council about Mr Varney's concerns."
Mark Parkinson, the city council's director for transport services, said: "We are aware of the issues with the Derby Road underpass and are working closely with our street cleansing department to get these rectified as soon as possible."
robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
2 Comments
by Annette, Nottingham
Monday, November 09 2009, 12:26PM
“I for one agree it is a disgrace, i worked at the QMC and regulary walked through this underpass feeling quite threatened if a group of youths walked in front or behind as it was so dark so I only feel for the elderly that have to walk through this is the winter Something has to be done!
The smell is awful and the walls are disgusting !
I am a smoker but I didnt use the walkway as a smoking area but I had no choice but to stand near it as just before you approach the walkway everyone gathers there to smoke which is terrible as you will have to walk through all the smoke and smokers to get down to the walkway !
I think they should open up a new part for smokers whether for staff or visitors or both !”
by Graham, Lenton
Monday, November 09 2009, 9:38AM
“The other problem with this underpass is that the staff from QMC all come to smoke in it after security turf them off the front of the hospital. You come through there reeking of fags.”