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Biggleswade High Street Guide

High Street, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 0JB

Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Comments View
    • Biggleswade is a Market Town in Central Bedfordshire, located just to the east of the A1.
    • This guide covers the main shopping area of the High Street.
    • This runs from the junction with Shortmead Street and St Andrew's Road in the west to the junction with Rose Lane in the east.
    • This is about 0.2 miles (320m) and takes approximately 5 minutes to walk.
    • The guide includes the bus station and Market Place on the south side of the High Street.
    • The shopping area is generally level or with slight slopes.
    • Footpaths are of concrete paving slabs.
    • The road surfaces and the Market Place are tarmac with block paving at most crossing points.
    • There are many opportunities to sit and rest.
    • The guide is divided into sections as follows:.
    • Access Guides for Related Venues.
    • Getting Here.
    • Parking.
    • Junction - St Andrew's Street and Shortmead Street with High Street.
    • High Street - St Andrews Street and Shortmead Street to Hitchin Street.
    • High Street - Hitchin Street to Station Road.
    • Market Place.
    • Access Point - Market Place to Bonds Lane Footpath.
    • Access Point - Abbots Walk - High Street to Church Street and Asda.
    • Market Place - Station Road Junction.
    • High Street - Market Place to Station Road.
    • High Street - Rose Lane Junction.
    • Accessible Toilet – Bus Station/ Market Place.
    • Standard Toilets – Bus Station/ Market Place.
    • Parent and Baby Room - Bus Station/ Market Place.

Getting Here

  • By Car:
  • Biggleswade is located approximately 1 mile from the A1, using London Road from the south or Hill Lane from the north (all part of the A6001).
  • The High Street is in the town centre and runs from west to east.
  • At the west end it joins Shortmead Street and St Andrew's Street.
  • At the east end it becomes London Road.
  • Parking:
  • There are short and long stay car parks in the town centre and limited on-street parking.
  • Parking is suspended in the Market Place on market days.
  • By Bus:
  • The bus station in Market Place is served by many routes to surrounding areas.
  • By Train:
  • Biggleswade Station is approximately 0.2 miles (5 minute walk) from the High Street along Station Road.
  • There is no step-free access to the platforms at this station.
  • There is a taxi rank outside the station.

Parking

  • Any parking restrictions for town centre parking apply Monday - Saturday 08.00 - 18.00.
  • High Street Car Parks:
  • There are two Blue Badge parking bays located on Market Place near to the Bus Station and Boots.
  • The bays are 360 x 450cm wide.
  • There is clear signage but the markings on the block paving are faded (seen in photographs 1 and 2).
  • There are also two Blue Badge bays at the other end of Market Place near to the War Memorial.
  • These are on-street bays which are 250 x 620cm (seen in photographs 3 and 4).
  • Parking is limited to 4 hours for Blue Badge holders in these areas.
  • There are also standard parking bays in this area, limited to 1 hour.
  • Some or all of the parking in this area will be suspended on market days (Tuesday and Saturday).
  • The White Hart car park is located off the High Street at the junction with Station Road (seen in photographs 5 and 6).
  • There are no Blue Badge bays in this car park.
  • Parking is free for all users for a maximum stay of 1 hour.
  • All users must enter their car registration in the ticket machine to obtain a free ticket.
  • The ticket machine keyboard is 130cm high.
  • On-street parking:
  • There are 2 on-street Blue Badge bays on the north side of the High Street outside Lloyds Bank (photographs 7 and 8).
  • There are also a small number of standard on-street bays on both sides of the High Street between this location and the west end of the street.
  • All the bays are 250 x 600cm.
  • Blue Badge holders may park in any of the bays for an unlimited period.
  • Other users are limited to 30 minutes.
  • There is no dropped kerb from the bays to the pavement.
  • Other car parks:
  • The Asda car park (2 hour maximum stay) is located to the north of the High Street, off Rose Lane.
  • Abbots Walk footpath connects the car park to the High Street.
  • The Lidl shoppers car park (1.5 hours maximum stay) is located to the south of Market Place, off Bonds Lane.
  • There is a footpath to link Market Place with Bonds Lane.

Junction - St Andrew's Street and Shortmead Street with High Street

  • St Andrew's Street and Shortmead Street meet the High Street at a small roundabout.
  • Footpaths in this area are concrete paving slabs or tarmac.
  • There is a crossing point on Shortmead Street, just north of the roundabout, near to the Parish Church.
  • There are dropped kerbs at the crossing point but no tactile paving.
  • There is a central refuge at the crossing.

High Street - St Andrews Street and Shortmead Street to Hitchin Street

  • There are railings between the footpath and the road close to the junction.
  • On both sides of the road the footpaths are generally over 4m wide and level.
  • On the north side, the footpath narrows to around 2.5m where there are inset parking bays.
  • There are bollards in this this area which do not have good colour contrast.
  • There may be tables and chairs on the pavement outside cafés.
  • On the south side, there are cycle racks and poles for road signs set into the pavement.
  • There may also be A-board signs outside shops.
  • There is a push-button pedestrian crossing with audible and visual signals.
  • The right hand push button on each side of the road is fitted with a rotating cone for visually impaired users.
  • There is tactile paving at the crossing.
  • The road surface is raised level with the footpath.
  • There is bench seating close to the pedestrian crossing on both sides of the road.
  • There is a town map sign opposite the crossing on the south side.

High Street - Hitchin Street to Station Road

  • Hitchin Street is on the south side of the High Street and is the access point for buses entering the bus station.
  • Hitchin Street is one way from the High Street.
  • There are dropped kerbs without tactile paving at the crossing point.
  • There are no other dropped kerbs in the bus station section of Hitchin Street (seen in photographs 3 and 4).
  • There is a push-button pedestrian crossing on the High Street.
  • This is close to the footpath into Market Place and the Abbots Walk access point to the Asda car park.
  • The crossing has audibled and visual signals.
  • The right hand push button on each side of the road is fitted with a rotating cone for visually impaired users.
  • There is tactile paving at the crossing.
  • The road surface is raised level with the footpath (photographs 5 - 8).
  • On the south side of the High Street, near to Snappy Snaps, there is a public telephone box and a bench seat.
  • There is further bench seating as the footpath broadens out into Market Place (photographs 9 and 10).
  • On the north side of the street, the pavement narrows to around 2m where there are inset parking bays.
  • There are cycle racks and poles for road signs set into the pavement near these.

Market Place

  • Market Place is a triangular-shaped public space with the bus station at its west end and the War Memorial where it comes to a point at Station Road.
  • There are no dropped kerbs between the bus station and the pedestrian area.
  • The pedestrianised area has block paving and there are many bench seats around the perimeter (seen in photographs 2 - 6).
  • Some of the trees have a low guard around them.
  • Some of the cafés facing onto Market Place may have tables and chairs outside.
  • On the south side, where there is car parking, there are bollards between the pedestrian area and the roadway.
  • The bollards do not have good colour contrast.
  • In this area there is a fingerpost sign and a town map.
  • On the north side of Market Place there is a walkway between Harrold's Opticians and the Raw Spirit Chocolate Company shop which leads through to the High Street (seen in photographs 9 and 10).
  • This connects with the pedestrian crossing and the Abbots Walk link to Asda.
  • The approach to the War Memorial facing the Market Place is by a short, steep ramp.
  • The approach from the opposite side, facing Station Road has a very slight slope (photographs 11 and 12).

Access Point - Market Place to Bonds Lane Footpath

  • This footpath connects the south side of Market Place, next to the New Inn with Bonds Lane, near to the Aldi car park.
  • From the central pedestrianised area of Market Place there is an uncontrolled crossing point opposite the New Inn where the road surface is raised level with the pavement.
  • The path then goes between the New Inn and Yours Clothing through a courtyard area and out to Bonds Lane (shown in photographs 1 - 3).
  • Photographs 4 - 8 show the route in the opposite direction.
  • The footpath narrows and takes a sharp right and left turn past the pub seating area.

Access Point - Abbots Walk - High Street to Church Street and Asda

  • This footpath connects the High Street at the pedestrian crossing through to Church Street and the Asda car park.
  • On the High Street, the opening is between Cambridge Hair Company and Tracey Jane fashions.
  • The path opens into a paved courtyard with small shops to both sides before passing under a canopy where it meets Church Road.
  • There is a push button pedestrian crossing at Church Road which has dropped kerbs and tactile paving.
  • The crossing has audibled and visual signals but no rotating cone.
  • There are bollards at the crossing which do not have good colour contrast.
  • Photographs 1 - 6 show the route from the High Street towards Asda.
  • Photographs 7 - 12 show the route in the opposite direction from within the Asda car park towards the High Street.
  • There may be tables and chairs and A board signs in the courtyard area.

Market Place - Station Road Junction

  • Station Road joins Market Place and the High Street from the south.
  • There is a zebra crossing on Station Road, close to Market Place and the Iceland store.
  • This connects to the White Hart pub and the public car park outside it on the east side of Station Road.
  • The crossing has dropped kerbs with tactile paving.
  • The road surface is block paving at the crossing.
  • The painted road markings are very faded.

High Street - Market Place to Station Road

  • On the north side of the High Street, the pavement is continuous from its western end up to Rose Lane.
  • The pavement is level concrete slabs and generally over 3m wide.
  • It may be narrowed to around 1m by tables and chairs and A-board signs outside businesses.

High Street - Rose Lane Junction

  • The junction between High Street and Rose Lane is controlled by traffic lights.
  • There are push-button pedestrian crossings on the High Street at the traffic lights on each side of the junction.
  • There is also a push-button pedestrian crossing to cross Rose Lane.
  • All three crossings have dropped kerbs with tactile paving.
  • The controls have visual signals and a rotating cone on the push button, which is to the right in each location.
  • The crossings do not have audible signals.

Toilet with Adaptations (Bus Station / Market Place)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is located on the side of the bus station facing Market Place.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is required for the accessible toilet.
    • The key is a radar key.
    • The key can be obtained from Boots.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The door is light.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 147cm x 180cm (4ft 10in x 5ft 11in).
    • There is not sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 82cm (2ft 8in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is not a mixer tap.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • Disposal facilities are not available in the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The shelf is not higher than 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm (1ft 6in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Comments View
    • The Radar key to open the accessible toilet and the parent and baby room is kept at Boots chemist on Market Place opposite the bus station.
    • A defibrillator is located to the left of the accessible toilet.

Standard Toilet(s) (Bus Station / Market Place)

Parent and Baby Room (Bus Station / Market Place)

  • There is a parent and baby room for public use.
  • The parent and baby room is located on the side of the bus station facing Market Place.
  • There is step-free access to the parent and baby room.
  • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the parent and baby room door.
  • The baby change table is not set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
  • The baby change table is not height adjustable.
  • The height of the baby change table once extended is 97cm (3ft 2in).
  • There are disposal facilities in the parent and baby room.
  • There is a wash basin in the parent and baby room.
  • The height of the wash basin is 90cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.
  • There is/are not chair(s) in the parent and baby room.
  • There is a toilet in the parent and baby room.
  • There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
  • The lighting levels are good.
  • Comments View
    • The parent and baby room is kept locked.
    • The key is a Radar key, as for the accessible toilet.
    • A spare key is kept at Boots chemist, facing the bus station on Market Place.

Access Guides Available For (Biggleswade High Street)