Overview

We met up as a family to have a picnic on the North Inch in Perth as it was somewhere that everyone could access. There were 6 of us (MiL; my husband and myself and the 3 adult children). My MiL uses a wheelchair as she has severe mobility issues now. We walked part way around the Inch and then had our picnic. The Inch is fairly open and flat with little shelter so MiL found the slight wind chilling. My daughter lent her a jacket that we used to cover her front and shoulders. I was surprised there were not more picnic tables. Only saw about 3. We only went into Bell's Sports Centre to use the public facilities. We would return here but next time would definitely ask to use the larger disabled toilet as the one in the lobby (RADAR key access) was tiny.

Transport & Parking

4.5

We drove by car but others travelled by bus and then walked. There was Disabled Parking bays next to Bell's but we have no Blue Badge yet. The regular parking was on gravel. No parking charges as it was Sunday.

Access

4.5

Bell's Sports Centre itself has an accessible entrance and lobby area. There are then automatic doors through to the customer service desk. We only used the lobby as that was were we found the toilets (further info to follow). The main building is accessible and has wide corridors with no steps. The North Inch has a path all around it some of which is easier to push a wheelchair along than others. We were using a wheelchair with large tread pneumatic wheels. I suspect a NHS small wheeled transfer chair would have found it hard work. There were a few picnic tables around the Inch but not very many. There were also occasional benches to sit upon.

Toilets

3

There was a SMALL/TINY locked disabled toilet in the lobby area of Bells Sports Centre. You needed a RADAR key to unlock it however the staff at the customer service desk will lend you one if needed. We struggled for space despite putting the bin outside the door as my MiL uses a wheelchair and needs 2 helpers and a gutter frame to stand and transfer. There were grab rails and an emergency pull chord. On returning the key I asked if that was the only Disabled Toilet and was shown a much larger one in the Centre which was a wet room which even had a hoist and what appeared to be a changing station along with a shower. I will be asking to use the larger one in future if we return.

Staff

3.5

The staff were very helpful, lending us the RADAR key for the small disabled toilet and showing me the larger toilet/wet room afterwards. I wish they had volunteered the information about the larger toilet BEFORE we had struggled with the smaller one as my MiL is now even more worried about finding suitable public facilities in the future.