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Souter Lighthouse and The Leas - Parking and Arrival

Coast Road, Whitburn, Tyne & Wear, SR6 7NH

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • View information about opening hours.
  • There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
  • Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
  • The following are also available: an information board in the car park.
  • This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: a Changing Places facility, a toilet with some adaptations, a step free standard toilet and a standard toilet.
  • There is a Changing Place which can be found at the front of the lighthouse, opposite the café entrance.
  • The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found to the left of the visitor reception and shop entrance.
  • This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 4m from the toilet block entrance.
  • The standard toilets surveyed can be found on the ground floor (female) and the first floor (male).

Admissions

  • At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: The Leas.
  • At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: all areas of the site.
  • This site offers companion or carer discounts.

Public Transport

Parking

  • This site has a car park.
  • The vehicle route from the main road to the car park includes: uneven surfaces.
  • This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and compacted gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for National Trust members and Blue Badge holders, but charges apply for all other visitors.
  • There are clearly presented payment signs.
  • Maps and information boards are available.
  • There are no Blue Badge parking bays available.
  • Obstacles from the car park include: uneven surfaces, slopes/ramps and a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park.
  • There are not parent and child parking bays available.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.

Equipment and Resources to Borrow

Entrance (Visitor Reception / Shop)

  • There is stepped access at the entrance.
  • The steep ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 79cm.
  • There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
  • The width of the opening is 81cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of more than 1.5cm.

Visitor Reception (/ Shop)

  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • The majority of aisle widths are under 150cm.
  • There is no room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) within the majority of the area.
  • All flooring is smooth and even.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 92cm.
  • There is not a low level section at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The counter is placed in front of a patterned background.
  • The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • There are bench seats available in the visitor reception.
  • Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Entrance (Lighthouse Café)

  • The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the café.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The slight ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 79cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.

Eating and Drinking (Lighthouse Café)

  • This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
  • Staff can provide assistance and offer service to tables.
  • Menu types include: written wall menus and digital wall menus.
  • Menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours).
  • The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups, two handled cups, easy grip cutlery and a portable card machine for payment.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
  • There is a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • There is a counter under 85cm high without a tray rail.
  • The counter is 84cm high.
  • There is step-free level access around the seating area.
  • There are tables and chairs without armrests available in the seating area.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • There are no tables which are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The surface height of the tables is 69cm.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.

Changing Places (Transfer Both Sides)

  • Location and Access View
    • The facility is additional to standard and accessible toilets, and is located close to other managed facilities.
    • Access into the facility is via a slight ramp/slope.
    • The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • A RADAR key is required for access to this facility.
    • The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
    • The width of the door opening is 97cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The dimensions of the facility are 230cm x 510cm.
    • The ceiling height is at a minimum height of 2.4m and there is a clear 200cm x 180cm manoeuvring space in the facility.
    • The facility has a non-slip floor.
  • Toilet Details View
    • There are lateral transfer spaces on both sides of the seat but the right side is obstructed.
    • The transfer space on the right as you face the toilet is 130cm.
    • The transfer space on the left as you face the toilet is 175cm.
    • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, vertical grab rails on both sides of the toilet and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • There is a dropdown rail on both sides of the seat.
    • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor, the internal door, some grab rails, the dropdown rail and the toilet seat.
    • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: some grab rails.
    • The toilet seat is 49cm above the floor.
    • There is a spatula flush on the right transfer side.
    • There is pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from floor).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 99cm.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
  • Changing Bench and Hoist Details View
    • The facility changing bench is wall mounted and height-adjustable.
    • The length of the facility changing bench is 170cm.
    • The changing places hoist is powered overhead and covers all areas in the cubicle.
  • Other Facilities View
    • There is a height adjustable wash basin.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • The towel dispenser is 103cm from the floor.
    • The hand dryer is 96cm from the floor.
    • The facility has: a waste bin with lid, a sanitary bin and a privacy screen.
    • There is a shelf located where it is reachable for seated and standing users.
    • The shelf does meet the criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets. For the Stoma Friendly Toilets criteria click here and scroll to the Stoma Friendly tab in the right hand pane.
    • The coat hooks are 99cm and 143cm from the floor.
    • Wide tear off paper roll is available.
    • The height of the wide paper roll dispenser is 98cm.
    • There is not a visual fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Toilet with Adaptations (Toilet Block - Ambulant - Left hand Transfer)

  • This toilet is located to the left of the visitor reception and shop entrance.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • This toilet is approximately 4m from the toilet block entrance.
  • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the toilet door opening is 79cm.
  • The door has a twist lock.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 145cm x 180cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat but it is obstructed.
  • The lateral transfer space is 87cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a lever flush on the non transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side and a vertical rail on the left side 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.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: wash basin, soap dispenser and hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 95cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever.
  • The height of the wash basin is 77cm.
  • The height of the soap dispenser is 111cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 113cm.
  • There is no emergency alarm.
  • There is not a shelf.
  • The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid and a sanitary bin.
  • The cubicle does not have a mirror.
  • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door and the floor.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, the dropdown rail and all grab rails.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Access into the toilet block is via 2 doors with steep ramps.

Standard Toilet (Toilet Block - Female)

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
  • The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 73cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.
  • Lighting levels are varied.
  • There are hand dryers.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Access into the toilet block is via 2 doors with steep ramps.

Stairs (to Standard Male Toilets)

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
  • There are 13 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The highest step is 20cm high.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Standard Toilet (Toilet Block - Male)

  • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
  • The width of the door opening is 81cm.
  • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
  • The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 76cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There are hand dryers.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Access into the toilet block is via 2 doors with steep ramps.