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The Vallance Centre

Brunswick Street, Ardwick, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9UJ

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Access Guide

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Overview (The Vallance Centre)

  • About View
    • This is a medical centre with multiple services available.
    • Services available in the venue include: GP Practices, Physiotherapy, S.A.L.T. Midwives, Mental Health, Phlebotomy, Dressing Clinic, Screening Services, Toilets and Baby Changing Facilities.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via slope at the most accessible entrance.
    • There is an additional entrance at the front of the building which has step-free access via a slope.
    • There is step-free level access throughout, this may include the use of a lift.
    • Access throughout may include manual doors.
    • The ground and first floors can be accessed via a standard lift and stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is a portable hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
    • British Sign Language interpreters can be provided on request.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: large print (on request).
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Additional facilities/services include: Wi-Fi.

Toilet and Changing Facilities (The Vallance Centre)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 4 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground floor to the right from the accessible rear entrance after reception, on the ground floor within both the green and blue wings, and on the first floor to the right from the lift.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the ground floor to the left from reception.
    • The shared step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the ground floor in the green wing, and on the first floor to the right from the lift.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located on the ground floor ahead from the accessible rear entrance.

Parking (The Vallance Centre)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the rear of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to one side and the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 4m from the accessible rear entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access and bollards.
    • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for staff, visitors and Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available.

Entrance (Accessible Rear Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the rear of the building.
  • The approach to the entrance has bollards.
  • 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 an intercom at a height of 95cm.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser is 122cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 96cm.
  • The doors have a low 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 95cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 158cm.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you enter.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • The slope is located between the outer and inner doors.

Reception (The Vallance Centre)

  • The reception is located on the ground floor, to the right from the accessible rear entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible rear entrance is 7m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 87cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • The reception has windows and patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is a portable hearing assistance system which is not clearly signed.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 101cm to 128cm from the floor.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
  • The seating and tables are fixed.

Getting Around (The Vallance Centre)

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas, this may include the use of a lift.
  • Access throughout may include manual doors.
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is not consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the left from the accessible rear entrance, in the Green Wing.
    • The distance from the accessible rear entrance is 25m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and manual doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 87cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high 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 273cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever 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 high visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • 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 99cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm 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 103cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is an unobstructed shelf.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 144cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Parent and Baby Room / Feeding Room (Ground Floor)

  • The room surveyed is located on the ground floor to the left from the accessible rear entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible rear entrance is 10m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
  • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
  • The width of the door opening is 88cm.
  • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
  • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 90cm.
  • There is a wash basin, a paper towel dispenser, an emergency alarm and a mirror in the room.
  • The wash basin has a lever tap.
  • The room has a nappy/incontinence items bin.
  • Seating available in the room includes: chairs without armrests and armchairs.
  • 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.

Lift (The Vallance Centre)

  • The lift surveyed is located to the right from the accessible rear entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible rear entrance is 14m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 112cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a low visual contrast.
  • Some of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were low at the time of the survey.

Stairs (The Vallance Centre)

  • The stairs surveyed are located ahead from the accessible rear entrance.
  • There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Seating Area (First Floor Corridor)

  • Location and Access View
    • The seating area is located next to the lift on the first floor.
    • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
    • The chairs are fixed.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.