Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has step-free level access and gates.
- This entrance is at the front of the building.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- The following are also available: seating and a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations and step free standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found to the rear right of the plant centre..
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found to the rear right of the plant centre.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: ear defenders and accessible maps.
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (the Plant Centre)
- From the visitor reception proceed ahead down a slope and the plant centre is located ahead.
- The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are gravel, paving stones and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance (Plant Centre)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There are double manual gates which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 200cm.
Shop
- There is step-free level access into the shop.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 95cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- Some flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to uneven paving/tiles.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 91cm.
- There is not a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter has windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There are also gravel surfaces in the outdoor area.
Toilet with Adaptations (Plant Centre Courtyard Area - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located within the courtyard area, to the right.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 86cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 146cm x 215cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 68cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 92cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 70cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 94cm.
- The height of the baby change is 83cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a padded back rest for seat.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
- The height of the coat hook is 152cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail and the floor.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- At the time of survey, there was a table within facility (84cm high) with a basket of loose paper towels.
Standard Toilet (Plant Centre Courtyard Area)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 81cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The female toilet was surveyed.
- There is also a male toilet in the same location.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 65cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist turn mixer.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.