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Cholmondeley Room and Terrace

House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW

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Access Guide

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Summary and Useful Information

  • The Disability Power 100 event is being held at the House of Lords on Tuesday 8th October 2019.
  • The event will take place in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace.
  • This Access Guide describes the route to the rooms from the Black Rods Garden Entrance (J) which is where guests are instructed to arrive in order to gain access to the site.
  • To view a map of the area please click here.
  • The surveyor was not permitted to take photographs in the areas leading to the event rooms.
  • The distance from the Black Rods Garden Entrance to the event is approximately 150 metres.
  • The route includes some slopes and ramps, some of which have steep gradients.
  • The slopes/ramps are not wide enough to allow wheelchair users to pass (the narrowest being 76cm).
  • The narrowest doorway is 70cm.
  • Guests will be escorted from the waiting area to the event so staff assistance is available in directing, opening doors etc.
  • After entering the building guests have to go through security checks and then through to a waiting area.
  • From the waiting area they will be escorted in groups to the event rooms via an outside courtyard.
  • Guests should always have documentation (invitations) ready to show upon arrival or they will not be able to gain access.
  • There is not a member of staff trained in British Sign Language.
  • Bowls of water can be provided for assistance dogs.
  • There is not an official onsite dog toileting area but it may be possible to arrange access to a courtyard where this could take place.
  • Standard manual wheelchairs can be provided although there are a limited number so this may need to be arranged in advance.
  • There is a fixed hearing assistance loop facility in the Terrace.
  • Coverage may not extend to the Cholmondeley Room.
  • The hearing loop was not tested at the time of the survey.

Getting Here

On Street Parking

  • There is a/are clearly signed and/or marked on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
  • The on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) is/are located on Great Peter Street, near the junction with Gayfere Street.
  • The dimensions of the on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 200cm x 490cm (6ft 7in x 16ft 1in).
  • Payment signs are provided.
  • Payment signs are clearly presented.
  • Payment term signs do not make it clear if parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders.
  • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
  • Free parking for Blue Badge holders is for 4 hours only.

Pedestrian Approach to Black Rod's Entrance - J

  • When approaching the Black Rod's Entrance - J from the Parliament Square direction the footpath is slightly uneven in places.
  • The final section leading to the entrance narrows to 102cm and has a short steep slope (Photograph 1).
  • When approaching the Black Rod's Entrance - J from the Millbank/Lambeth Bridge direction there are also some slightly uneven sections with short steep slopes at dropped kerbs (Photographs 2 and 3).
  • There are also bollards when approaching from this direction.
  • The minimum gap between the bollards is 122cm.
  • The bollards have a good colour contrast with the paving.

1/ Arrive at Black Rods Garden Entrance - J

  • The Black Rods Garden Entrance (J) is located off Abingdon Street.
  • Vehicular access to this entrance is restricted.
  • The entrance will be attended by a police officer and it will be necessary to present your invitation.
  • There is a gate at the entry point which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the gate opening is 110cm.
  • After the gate there is a path straight ahead of you.
  • The path narrows to 100cm for a short section after the gate but then widens to 150cm.
  • The path has a flagstone paved surface and is fairly level and smooth.
  • The path is covered.
  • Guests should follow the path straight ahead for 32 metres and then take the second door on the left to access the security room.

2/ Enter the Security Room and Pass Through Security Scanners

  • The door into the security room is single, opens away from you (push) and is permanently held open.
  • The width of the door opening is 92cm.
  • There are two 2cm lipped thresholds at this doorway.
  • After the entering guests will need to put coats, bags, watches, belts etc into trays for staff to put through the scanning machine.
  • Security staff will pass trays to guests and take them to the scanning machine.
  • Guests will then need to pass through one of two airport type body scanners which are located 1 metre beyond the entrance to the room.
  • The width of the gaps through the body scanners are 75cm.
  • After passing through the body scanners guests will need to collect their trays and turn right towards the waiting room.
  • There is a desk after the scanners which can be used to rest trays on.
  • The height of the desk is 73cm.
  • There is a knee recess space under the desk but it was obstructed by a box and a bin at the time of the survey.
  • The dimensions of the space after the scanners is 270cm (width) by 210cm (depth).
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • The flooring type in the security room is carpet.

3/ Enter the Waiting Area and Wait to be Escorted

  • After passing through security turn right and pass through the doorway into the waiting area.
  • The door is single, opens away from you (push), and is permanently held open.
  • The width of the door opening is 78cm.
  • The waiting area has a staffed desk which is located 3 metres from the doorway.
  • The height of the desk is 73cm.
  • There is not a knee recess at the desk.
  • The background behind the desk is plain and walls and floors in the room have a good colour contrast.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system at the desk.
  • There is a screen in the room which is rarely on but is sometimes used to display agenda updates for the House of Lords.
  • The waiting area has 5 two-seater backless padded benches.
  • The height of these benches are 56cm.
  • There are no spaces for wheelchair users to rest next to these seats but there is sufficient space to turn in front of them.
  • The flooring type is carpet.
  • Lighting levels are moderate.
  • After checking in at the desk guests will wait until they are collected and escorted to the event rooms.
  • Guests will leave via the same doorway they used to enter the waiting area.

4/ Leave the Waiting Area and Proceed to the Courtyard

  • Guests will be escorted from this point onwards.
  • After leaving the waiting area guests will pass back through the rear of the security room and go through a doorway on the opposite side (approximately 5 metres from doorway to doorway).
  • The door on the opposite side of the security room is single, opens towards you (pull) and is permanently held open.
  • The width of the door opening is only 70cm.
  • After passing through the doorway guests will turn immediately right and pass through another door.
  • Staff escorting guests will open the door but it is single and opens towards you (pull).
  • The width of the door opening is 80cm.
  • Immediately after the doorway there is a short (125cm) downhill ramp with a slight gradient.
  • The width of the ramp is 93cm.
  • The ramp leads to the covered courtyard access road.
  • Upon reaching the access road guests will turn right and proceed straight ahead for 25 metres until reaching the courtyard.
  • The road has a smooth tarmac surface and is 300cm in width.
  • At the end of the access road, as you reach the courtyard, there are traffic cones to either side and a drain cover.

5/ Cross the Courtyard to the Central Entrance

  • Upon reaching the courtyard staff escorting guests may check with the Duty Manager that the event rooms are ready.
  • If so guests will cross the courtyard diagonally to the left towards the central entrance.
  • The courtyard has parking spaces for vehicles so guests should proceed with caution.
  • The courtyard has a smooth tarmac surface.
  • The courtyard is uncovered and open to the elements.
  • Access to the entrance is either; via a ramp to the left of the entrance or via steps to the right of the entrance.
  • The distance to the start of the ramp is approximately 42 metres across the courtyard.
  • The distance to the foot of the steps is approximately 30 metres across the courtyard.
  • The access ramp between the courtyard and the entrance runs around the far left corner of the courtyard.
  • The access ramp is approximately 21 metres long with some level sections.
  • The gradients are upwards and slight with the exception of a very short steep section at the start.
  • The sloped sections have a handrail on the right and then handrails on both sides.
  • Handrail heights range from 90cm to 130cm.
  • Handrails are easy to grip.
  • The landing outside the central entrance, at the top of the ramp and steps, has dimensions of 200cm x 120cm.
  • If using the steps instead of the ramp there is firstly a 14cm kerb which is not marked.
  • After the kerb there is a single 15cm step which has a thick black marking but no handrail.
  • There are then 2 further steps to the left going up to the entrance.
  • The last steps have handrails on both sides at a height of 80cm.
  • The last 2 steps also have a thick black marking but they are worn.

6/ Enter the Building

  • The door into the building is single, opens away from you (push) and is permanently held open.
  • The width of the door opening is 90cm.
  • After passing through the doorway there is a second set of doors after 4 metres (Photograph 1)
  • The second set of doors are double, open both ways and are permanently held open.
  • There is carpet flooring in this part of the building.
  • After the second set of doors the carpet is patterned.
  • Immediately after the second set of doors there is a level change leading down.
  • To the right there is a ramp with a slight gradient.
  • The narrowest width of the ramp is 90cm.
  • The ramp has a banister on the left at a height of 90cm.
  • There are handrails on the right for the first and last section of the ramp at a height of 85cm.
  • Alternatively to the left of the ramp there are 2 clearly marked steps.
  • The steps have a height of 15cm and a depth of 32cm.
  • The steps have a banister on the right, going down, at a height of 88cm.
  • The steps have a handrail on the left which follows the wall around to the left rather than following the steps down (Photograph 5).
  • The lighting in this area is moderate to good.

7/ Access to the Toilets and Cholmondeley Room

  • After the ramp guests can either proceed straight ahead towards the Terrace or go to the Cholmondeley Room.
  • The toilets are located in the link corridor between the level change and the Cholmondeley Room.
  • To get to the Cholmondeley Room guests should go down the ramp and then turn immediately back on themselves towards the steps (Photograph 1).
  • There is a 90cm gap between the bannister on the left and a pillar.
  • Before reaching the steps there is a passage on the right hand side.
  • Turn right into the passage through the permanently held open double doors.
  • Approximately 4 metres after the doorway there are accessible and male standard toilet facilities to the right and a female standard toilet to the left.
  • To access the Cholmondeley Room follow the passage to the end and turn right through the doorway into the room.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located in the passage leading to the Cholmondeley Room.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Terrace.
    • There is ramped/sloped access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is high.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 82cm (2ft 8in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is high.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 140cm x 225cm (4ft 7in x 7ft 5in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is high.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is high.
    • 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).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is low.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
  • Additional Fixtures and Fittings View
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary, nappy/incontinence items bin and pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 100cm and 166cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the right hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 98cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is high.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located in the passage leading to the Cholmondeley Room.
    • There is ramped/sloped access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 25m from the Terrace.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 77cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

8/ Cholmondeley Room

  • The Cholmondeley Room is a reception room with a registration desk and a refreshment table.
  • There is clear manoeuvring space with no other furniture.
  • The height of the registration desk is 73cm (Photograph 1).
  • The knee recess is obstructed by the table cloth.
  • The height of the refreshment table is 99cm (Photograph 2).
  • The knee recess is obstructed by the table cloth.
  • The Cholmondeley Room and the Terrace are adjacent to each other but direct access between the two is via steps (Photograph 3).
  • There are 5 clearly marked steps with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The step heights are 15cm and the depth is 31cm.
  • The height of the handrail is 82cm.
  • The alternative access route via the passage and ramp is approximately 35 metres in length.

9/ Access to the Terrace

  • After the level change described in Section 6 'Enter The Building' proceed straight ahead.
  • There is a doorway after 4 metres.
  • The door opens towards you (pull) and is permanently held open (staff open it).
  • The width of the door opening is 105cm.
  • There is a lipped threshold in front of the doorway (Photograph 2) and a short, steeply sloped threshold immediately beyond it (Photograph 3).
  • The route after the doorway was obstructed but the surveyor was advised this would be cleared for the event.
  • After 2 metres turn left and there is a ramp leading up to the Terrace (Photographs 5 to 7).
  • The width of the ramp is 76cm (at the narrowest point) and the length is 750cm.
  • The ramp gradient is steep and there are no resting/passing areas or handrails.
  • The ramp surface is carpet.
  • Lighting levels are low to moderate.

10/ Terrace

  • The Terrace is the main room for the event.
  • There is room for a wheelchair to manoeuvre in this area.
  • The room has a wooden surface and lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Table heights are 75cm.
  • There is seating without armrests only.
  • The Terrace and the Cholmondeley Room are adjacent to each other but direct access between the two is via steps (Photograph 5).
  • There are 5 clearly marked steps with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The step heights are 15cm and the depth is 31cm.
  • The height of the handrail is 82cm.
  • The alternative access route via the ramp and passage is approximately 35 metres in length.
  • There is a fixed hearing assistance loop facility in the Terrace.
  • Coverage may not extend to the Cholmondeley Room.

11/ Access to the Outside Terrace

  • There is an outside terrace area which may be open to guests depending on the weather.
  • Access to this area is via sliding door exits.
  • One of these doorways has a ramp on the other side.
  • The remainder have a single, clearly marked step.
  • Access to the ramped exit is via a single step as shown in Photograph 1.
  • A portable ramp can be provided to overcome this step as shown in Photograph 2.
  • The width of the portable ramp is 71cm.
  • The portable ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The width of the doorway is 130cm.
  • The door is difficult to open but staff can assist.
  • After the exit the ramp leading down has a width of 114cm (Photographs 3 and 4).
  • The ramp has a steep gradient and a handrail on the right going down.
  • The outside terrace has a paved surface and a minimum width of 130cm past the planters.
  • There is a single seat without armrests.