Great venue - just a few tweaks needed to improve disabled access
4
4
Date of visit: September 2015
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
The nature of this site and its extremely old buildings means there are always going to have to be limitations. But the venue has tried really hard and it was a lovely day out. Not really suitable to be undertaken on foot if you have walking problems - the site is vast. Ordinary wheelchairs might also struggle with rough paths and a few gradients - better for mobility scooters or powered chairs. Though listed as Chichester, it's outside the town at Singleton. There's a bus stop nearby.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Plenty of bench seating dotted around the site if you did go on foot or if you wanted to to take a break. Many of the ancient buildings were sadly inaccessible or had upstairs. However many had level entry - if not in front, then round the back. My suggestion for improvement would be signage to say disabled access this way! What a shame they don't keep a mobility scooter for hire - loads of signs boasting about their lottery funding and this would have been such a sensible and welcome facility!
Parking & Transport
Good
We drove, there are four blue badge bays opposite the ticket office. Can imagine it would get a bit crowded sometimes but there's plenty of parking on site. Apparently you can drive a car into the middle of the site with permission, if you couldn't otherwise make it in. There's also another entrance below the ticket office which we were given the code for.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There were two disabled loos, not radar key operated. Sadly both had rail on one side of the WC only, had wash basin and hand dryer at "normal" height no rather than lowered for wheelchair user and, worst of all, no alarm cord. So no way of summoning help. The third loo block at the far end of the site did not have a disabled loo, though was level access.
Staff
Excellent
Staff and volunteers so friendly and helpful. Lady at entrance explained map and gave us an access guide (it's also on their website). In individual houses, staff offered even to move furniture to give me more room to manoeuvre. Top marks!
Additional Information
They should: Get their disabled loos properly set up with dual handrails, lowered facilities and alarm cord. Provide signs showing location of level access to buildings, where it exists. Consider mobility scooter hire for people without their own.
