intu

llgoatj

10 Nov 2015

Tries Hard

3.5

3.5

Date of visit: November 2015

I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Good

We have been to the Trafford Cenre plenty of times before but this is the first time I have been in a wheelchair. While they do try harder than some shopping centers they have not really thought about the facilities they provide. For instance there are plenty of disabled parking spaces but the ones we parked in were a distance from the entrance and had a huge high kerb in the way meaning I had to go in the road to get to the entrance. There are also only one small lift up meaning you have to wait a while to use it because of pushchairs. It is far better than many shopping centers but can imagine it being a nightmare at busier times.

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

Apart from the long distance from parking spaces in the shopmobility park there is excellent access inside. All flat. It is let down by there only being one small lift by the food court entrance. As prams have to use it too there is a wait when it is not even that busy. Saturday must be a nightmare.

Parking & Transport

Good

There are plenty of disabled parking spaces. However we parked in the "shopmobilty" area thinking this would be the most suitable for wheelchairs. The spaces are a distance from the entrance. There is also a high curb meaning you have to go right to the other side of the car park and then back down in the middle of the road taxis use. Not fun in the rain and dangerous. As you would expect the shopping center has excellent public transport links.

Accessible Toilets

Good

Disabled toilets require a Radar key which means disabled people actually get to use them. However if you haven't got one it appears you have no choice but to buy one from customer services. There is also only one per area so again there is a wait and must be worse when busy.

Additional Information

Not too bad. Better than a lot of other shopping centers but again from a wheelchair it is a struggle at quiet times so I hate to think what it is like when busy