Get Active
4.5
4.5
Date of visit: March 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
The sport centre is level access throughout with cafe, sports halls and ice rinks on the ground floor, and lift access to the first floor where you’ll find the spacious gym area, studios and lounge/restaurant/viewing area overlooking the ice rink.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
The sport centre has level access throughout with cafe, sports halls, swimming pool (which at time of visit was closed due to works being in progress), and ice rinks on the ground floor, and lift access to the first floor where you’ll find the spacious gym area, studios and lounge/restaurant/viewing area overlooking the ice rink. The entrance is double doors that are automatic. The reception desk has a lowered area suitable for wheelchair users. You must go to reception desk to get through the barrier to access all areas. As you enter there is a small cafe area with a decent sized area with tables and chairs that are easily moved for better access. This is directly beside a climbing wall. There is an ice rink in the centre that provides opportunities of skating and Curling. Stirling Wheelchair Curling club has sessions here each Wednesday during the Curling season. There is also another purpose built Curling rink, The National Curling Academy (NCA), generally used for the elite British Olympic and Paralympic squads. Due to the World Wheelchair Curling Championships being held at the Peak recently, the doors to both rinks are opened automatically by pressing the push pads on the wall.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
There is a large car park with a good number of accessible parking spaces directly outside. The car park has regularly got traffic wardens coming round checking who is in the accessible bays. There is a bus service that runs just outside the centre but unsure as to what number as I always travel by car. The train station is about 15 min Wheelchair push away.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
There are quite a few accessible toilets throughout the centre. The smallest of these is located just next to the cafe at the main entrance. The other accessible toilets are a good size all with showering facilities. These are scattered throughout the sports centre including at least 2 upstairs near the gym, 2 near the sports halls, 1 in the ice rink and 1 in the NCA. I did come across one of the toilets that had a bed and portable hoist in but not sure of weight limits etc. I think it would be advisable
Staff
Excellent
I’ve always found the staff to be very helpful and friendly.
