Johnstone Community Sports Hub

dystrophydad

06 Jun 2024

EV Charging: Watts while you wait

3

3

Date of visit: June 2024

I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.

I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair

Overall Rating

Average

Johnstone Community Sports Hub, known locally as "The Hub" is a sports centre on Beith Road. With weekend and evening youth football, a gym, a swimming pool, and fitness and martial arts classes, it's a central part of the town. On the grounds of Johnstone High School, it can get busy at the start and end of the day, and during the lunchtime rush to the chippy across the road.

Disabled Access In and Around

Average

The car park is accessed via car or the footpaths on either side of the car park. 3 of the EV spaces are the size of a standard parking space, whilst the 4th, closest to the main road, is slightly wider. The charger terminals have been installed on the pavement, which elevates them further. There are no cables provided. As is common with this charger type, there are bollards located to the front on either side of the chargers. There are no buttons on the machine, it has an electronic display with a contactless card reader on the front.

Parking & Transport

Good

This location has 3 accessible parking spaces, though they tend to be occupied by parents and relatives waiting for kids to finish their karate class or football practice - blue badge or not. There are 4 Evolt branded type 7kW type 2 chargers at this location. There's a bus stop outside the hub on Beith Road where the 1, 5, 17A, 20, 30, 38, 38A, 51A, 61 and 307A services stop - as of this review.

Accessible Toilets

Average

There is an accessible toilet located within the main building, to the right as you enter. The door does not need a radar key. The toilet is clean and spacious enough for a manual or power chair to manoeuvre and could accommodate a carer if needed. Grab rails are installed on either side of the toilet and the low sink. A toilet paper dispenser and a soap dispenser are mounted on the wall. There are 2 sanitary waste bins and a folding baby change table. The hub also provides free period products, stored in the wall-mounted dispenser. The red cord has been severed and only hangs 6 inches from the ceiling. I reported this to the manager Jason, who was helpful and happy to log this issue to get it resolved. I would have scored the facilities higher had it not been for this safety concern.

Staff

Excellent

I briefly spoke to Pauline at the front desk to raise my concerns about the red cord. She was helpful and referred me to Jason, who promptly came to speak with me.

Additional Information

As with many EV charging points at this time, there is little consideration given to accessibility. It would be nice if this could be given greater priority. The red cord in the toilet needs attention, and I trust this will be resolved.