Great access
5
5
Date of visit: May 2016
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets, moving around and understanding.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Excellent
Coming by car this country park is eminently accessible. Parking is good and the paths are well cared for although as you get further out into the park it becomes less so. The exhibition centre has a restaurant upstairs with a good lift. The veranda to the cafe is also accessible for a wheelchair though you may have to move a few chairs to get through, but as the staff are so helpful that is no problem. The RSPB centre is also easy to access. Toilets in the centre are excellent.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
The site is mainly flat and the paths around the village green are shingle/cement. Going down through the reed beds the walkways are planking with chicken wire and so they do not get slippery and are wide enough with passing places. Most areas are accessible but there are obviously large areas which are grass covered and not suitable for wheelchairs. The exhibition centre has automatic double width doors. The RSPB centre has double doors and a slight ramp.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
There are 4 large disabled parking bays right outside the exhibition centre. There is also a fair sized car park there as well as outside the Green Centre and also a smaller one at the marina end of the access road. Pitsea station is nearby but it would be about a 15 minute walk and includes going over a level crossing.
Accessible Toilets
Excellent
The disabled toilets are a generous size with grab rails and a lak of clutter.
Staff
Excellent
Staff seem to enjoy working here, as do the volunteers and we have found them all very helpful. The cafe staff are very thoughtful too.
Additional Information
If there is a big special event on this place gets rammed. There is only the one access road in or out so you will have to queue for a long time to get in to special events. They also use an overflow car park for these events which is on grass. Access to the park is across a gated level crossing which can be busy during the commuter rush hour.
