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Mills Observatory

Balgay Park, Glamis Rd, DD2 2UB

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a slight slope at the most accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible entrance is the main entrance.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the balcony and telescope.
    • There are no doors along circulation routes.
    • The ground, first and second floors can be accessed via stairs.
    • The telescope imagery can be transmitted to the ground floor for those unable to access the telescope itself.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is a portable hearing assistance system.
    • The alternative formats documents can be provided in include: Braille (on request), large print (on request), Makaton (on request), different languages (on request), voice recognition (on request) and audio (on request).
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Staff receive the following training: equality and diversity training.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the right as you enter.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • Female and male step-free standard toilet facilities are located to the right as you enter, before the stairs.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the front of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 245cm (width) x 455cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 50cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 15m from the entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight slope.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for all users.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • Electric Vehicle charging points are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the venue.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is sloped and stepped access at the entrance.
  • The slope bypasses the steps.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There are 4 steps.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a bell at a height of 140cm.
  • There are double manual doors.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • One of the doors was locked at the time of the survey.
  • The locked door can be opened on request.
  • The width of the opening is 67cm.
  • The doors have a medium colour contrast.
  • There is a second, single manual door.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 83cm.
  • The door has a high colour contrast.

Reception

  • Location View
    • The reception is located to the left as you enter.
    • The distance from the entrance is 5m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to the reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 96cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
    • The reception has patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • There is a clearly signed portable hearing assistance system.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • 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: benches.
    • Seating is fixed.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is not step-free access between floors.
    • There is not step-free level access throughout.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the balcony and telescope.
  • Circulation View
    • There are no doors to open along circulation routes.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor varies between low and high along circulation routes.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise.
    • Seating available in the walkways includes: benches.
    • Lighting levels vary due to there being different types of lights in the space.
    • Lighting levels are adjustable.

Room (Lecture)

  • The room is located ahead as you enter.
  • The distance from the entrance is 5m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • There is written text signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 83cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high colour contrast.
  • There is step-free level access throughout.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
  • Seating available in this room includes: chairs without armrests.
  • There is a portable hearing assistance system which is not clearly signed.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this room.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is a further room to the rear of this, which is only used for storage during the closed season.

Stairs

  • The stairs are located to the rear of the building.
  • The ground floor, balcony and telescope can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are double manual doors to access the stairwell.
  • There is a handrail that switches sides.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Entrance (First Floor Balcony)

  • This entrance is located to the rear of the first floor.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 83cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you enter.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • There are no handrails for the ramp.
  • The balcony area is level with wide paths surrounding most of the building with views in all directions.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right as you enter.
    • The distance from the entrance is 10m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a medium colour contrast.
    • The width of the opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a low colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 260cm (width) x 215cm (depth).
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 190cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is no vertical grab rail for the toilet.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 104cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the left side of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low colour contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is no mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 95cm.
    • The walls and floor have a medium colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.