IN RESPONSE to Mary Pockett and Marjorie Dunster's letter about the merging of the two surgeries in Wrington and Churchill, they say that only five per cent walk to the Wrington Surgery .

IN RESPONSE to Mary Pockett and Marjorie Dunster's letter about the merging of the two surgeries in Wrington and Churchill, they say that 'only five per cent walk to the Wrington Surgery'.

We would contest this statistic and would like to know on what information it was based.

The car park at the Wrington surgery is nearly always half empty; if this statistic was accurate, it would be overflowing.

I did not suggest that 2,000 patients walked. What I did say was that if the surgery was moved to Pudding Pie Lane, all the Wrington and Redhill patients would have to have transport.

In addition, young mothers with children would probably have the most difficulty in that it is likely that their partners have to take the car to get to work. At present, most push their children in buggies to the surgery. If they have to have transport, they can't just take a lift, because the car has to be fitted with age-appropriate child seats.

Wrington Helpline, for which I am a driver, has already stated that it could not cope with the huge increase in journeys which would be required. Helpline is geared to taking people to pre-booked hospital appointments in Weston and Bristol.

Removing the practice from one of two main settlements it covers would have extremely complex results. The Yatton practice, also needing more room, has decided, rather than moving, to extend on the present site and this, in my opinion, is what the Wrington practice should be considering.

ECHO IRVING

Chairwoman, Wrington Parish Council

Church Walk

Wrington