Essential visit
3
3
Date of visit: April 2015
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Average
On paper it all sounded very easy with auto doors, accessible loo and dropped counters.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
Once you are in the car park area which is also where the main entrance is situated it gets better. Your challenge is being able to negotiate the lack of dropped curbs to even get this far! Once inside having passed through the automatic doors you will be greeted by security and after a quick check you proceed into the main area of the building. It's all level access and fairly easy to wheel around, there are dropped counters, and a hearing loop.
Parking & Transport
Average
Parking is good as there is a dedicated carpark and this includes blue badge parking spaces. If you are coming under your own steam such as wheeling from a nearby location as a wheelchair user forget it! If you can negotiate the 6 inch curb you will manage to get in.
Accessible Toilets
Average
There are two, clearly signposted, accessible toilets. Not having use them I can't comment further.
Staff
Excellent
The staff were helpful, friendly and polite.
Additional Information
For a public service building to be inaccessible from the street for wheelchair users is not acceptable. Also when it is providing an essential service which would be very difficult to get elsewhere.
