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Auckland Project - Auckland Tower

Market Place, Bishop Auckland, Durham, DL14 7NJ

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Access Guide

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Overview

Access To

  • The Auckland Tower is situated on Marketplace, opposite the on-street parking.
  • The distance from the Blue Badge parking bays is 40m.
  • The most accessible route has uneven surfaces and step-free level access.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • 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 are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 132cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.

Ticketing

  • Ticket Office View
    • The ticket office surveyed is located on the left as you enter.
    • There is step-free level access to the ticket office.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the ticket office.
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • The queue width is at least 150cm and there is no need to turn.
    • There is not a separate wheelchair accessible queue lane.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • Seating available includes: benches.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.
    • The height of the counter is 112cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the counter.
    • The height of the lowered section is 78cm.
    • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds and a television.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system which is not clearly signed.
    • The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
    • The staff were unable to operate the loop.

Lift

  • The distance from the main entrance is 8m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has automatic doors and step-free level access.
  • The ground floor, first floor and viewing tower floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have 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 internal lift control buttons have a high visual contrast, tactile markings and Braille markings.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator and a mirror to aid reversing.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the left as you leave the lift.
    • The distance from the lift is 6m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 89cm.
    • 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 185cm (width) x 238cm (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.
    • The lateral transfer space is 120cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There are horizontal grab rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The horizontal grab rails have 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 107cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 71cm 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 soap dispenser, however it is not wall mounted.
    • 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 99cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is a shelf, however there is an obstruction in front of it.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 190cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Standard Toilet Facilities (Male)

  • The male standard toilet facilities were surveyed.
  • The toilets are located to tge right of the lift.
  • The distance from lift is 3m.
  • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
  • The ambulant cubicle has horizontal grab rails on both sides.
  • There is a wash basin, a soap dispenser and a hand dryer available.
  • The wash basin has a sensor tap.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Standard Toilet Facilities (Female)

  • The female standard toilet facilities were surveyed.
  • The toilet is located to the right of the lift.
  • The distance from lift is 4m.
  • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • The ambulant cubicle has horizontal grab rails on both sides.
  • The wash basin has a sensor tap.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Entrance (First Floor Exhibition Space)

  • This entrance is located to the right as you leave the lift.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 108cm.
  • The width of the opening is 94cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.

Exhibition Space (First Floor)

  • This area is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
  • There may be background noise.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • Display information includes: information boards and pictorial.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: stools.
  • There is push pad to operate the door in the shop.

Exhibition Space (Tower Viewing Platform)

  • This area is outdoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • Access throughout may include uneven surfaces and narrow walkways.
  • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.