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Chester Zoo - Heart of Africa

Caughall Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 1EU

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Access Guide

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Overview

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located in the middle of the Heart of Africa zone.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • The gender inclusive step-free toilet facilities are located in the middle of the Heart of Africa zone.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the middle of the Heart of Africa zone.

Getting Around (Heart of Africa)

  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: throughout the area (slight and steep gradients).
  • Access throughout may include manual doors, doors permanently held open and automatic doors.
  • There is background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: benches.

Entrance (Hidden Savannah)

  • This entrance is located in the middle of Heart of Africa.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 98cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.

Exhibition Space (Hidden Savannah)

  • This attraction is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is background noise.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • Display information includes: information boards.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Exit (Hidden Savannah)

  • The exit area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There are double automatic doors at this exit.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 98cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.

Entrance (Love Birds)

  • This entrance is located on the east side of Heart of Africa.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • The door has a medium visual contrast.

Exhibition Space (Love Birds)

  • This attraction is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The walls and floor have a low visual contrast.
  • There is background noise.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Exit (Love Birds)

  • The exit area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There is a single manual door at this exit.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • The door has a medium visual contrast.

Entrance (Tsavo Aviary)

  • This entrance is located on the east side of Heart of Africa.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 158cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is also a door curtain you must walk through in order to enter the exhibit.

Exhibition Space (Tsavo Aviary)

  • This attraction is outdoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: access to one of the viewing areas (slight gradient).
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is background noise.
  • Display information includes: information boards.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.

Exit (Tsavo Aviary)

  • The exit area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There are double manual doors at this exit.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 190cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you exit.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There is a door curtain at this exit.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located in the middle of Heart of Africa .
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has slight ramps or slopes, uneven surfaces and steep ramps or slopes.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm (width) x 222cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 75cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 98cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 88cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 78cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 86cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade, and unshaded light sources.

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