Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Music Department

Merchiston Campus, Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Introduction

  • Comments View
    • The Music Department is located on the ground floor of the Merchiston Building. It can be accessed externally at the rear left of the campus or internally via the Art & Design Department.

Getting Here

  • By Road View
    • Merchiston Campus is located to the southwest of the city centre area where parking is still strictly controlled.
      The nearest main roads are the A702 or the A70 to the north which link the city bypass to the city centre.
    • There is a small car park including some Blue Badge designated bays to the rear of the Merchiston Building, off Mardale Crescent.
      There is on-street parking to the front of the main building on Colinton Road and in the surrounding streets.
      Parking charges may vary depending upon which side of the street is used, see signage for details and restrictions.
  • By Bus View
    • The majority of buses are operated by Lothian Buses.
      Up to the minute "real time" bus timetable information is now available at the majority of bus stops across the city.
      All buses are described as easy access and have designated wheelchair space.
      Bus route 45 serves the Colinton Road bus stops.
      Alternatively, the Holy Corner bus stops on Bruntsfield Place A702, about 300m from the campus, are served by bus routes 11, 15, 16, 23, 36, 45, 101, 101A, 101S, 102, 102S, and night buses N11 and N16.
  • By Train View
    • Merchiston Campus is 1.2 miles from Haymarket Station, and 2.1 miles from the central Edinburgh Waverley Station.
      Edinburgh has rail links throughout the UK. The East Coast mainline links Edinburgh to London King’s Cross. There is also a sleeper service.
      There are also major links to other cities across the country, including express services to Glasgow, and links to York, Newcastle, Manchester, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.
      All trains arrive at Waverley Station in the centre of the city, while many also stop at Haymarket in the West End.
  • By Tram View
    • Regular trams run between York Place in the city centre and Edinburgh Airport.
      The nearest tram stop to the Merchiston Campus is at Haymarket, next to the railway station.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of the main building, off Mardale Crescent.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Merchiston Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is block paving.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked and signposted.
    • There is/are 3 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 372cm x 400cm (12ft 2in x 13ft 1in).
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
    • Signs are clearly presented.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is level access to the car park from the Merchiston Building accessible rear entrance.
    • This car park is not clearly signposted from the Merchiston Building.
    • The nearest designated bay is 62m (67yd 2ft) from the accessible rear entrance.

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is a site/campus car park for staff, students and visitors within approximately 200m.
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available within the car park.
    • The name of the car park is Merchiston Campus car park.
    • The car park is located to the rear of the main building, off Mardale Crescent.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or marked on street Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the marked Blue Badge bays are 375cm x 490cm (12ft 4in x 16ft 1in).
    • The on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) is/are located on Colinton Road.
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the standard marked parking bays are 240cm x 490cm (7ft 10in x 16ft 1in).
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Colinton Road and Mardale Crescent.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
    • The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
  • Comments View
    • A parking permit is required to park in the rear University car park.

Outside Access (Main Entrance - Music Department)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the rear left of the main building, in the lower courtyard.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key fob is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The width of the door opening is 120cm (3ft 11in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of less than 2cm.
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 125cm (4ft 1in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located to the left as you face the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides.
  • Comments View
    • This door is located across from the Merchiston Building accessible entrance, slightly closer to the rear car park.
    • There is a short steep ramp to the right of the entrance.

Entrance (Internal Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the building from Art & Design.
    • There is step free access at this entrance, via lift.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The automatic door(s) is / are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The width of the door opening is 170cm (5ft 7in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 165cm (5ft 5in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located between the first and second set of doors.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building.
    • There is a slight slope, with no handrails, for access to the rear corridor studios.
    • The ramps are on level A corridors to the studios and classrooms. Photographs 13 to 15 show the rear corridor slopes.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is not clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is no directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The system is a fixed loop.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • Most of the internal doors require a swipe card and have a noticeable threshold.

Lift (Platform Lift - Music Department)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located towards the rear left of the building.
  • The lift is a platform lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are A and UB.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 400kg, 2 persons.
  • The lift is approximately 38m (41yd 1ft) from the main entrance - Music Department.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The lift door is manual, opens outwards and is easy to open.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 96cm x 140cm (3ft 2in x 4ft 7in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The lift does not have a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • This lift is 90m from lift 4 on Upper B level in the main building.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are A, UB.
    • The stairs are located rear left corridor level A, by the internal entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 4m from the internal entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to access the stairwell on the upper ground floor.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • There is a landing.

Toilet with Adaptations (Level A - A.56 - Right Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on level A, to the right as you exit the Music Department internal entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 22m (24yd 2in) from the Music Department Lift.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is tactile, 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 lever twist.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
    • 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.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 150cm x 211cm (4ft 11in x 6ft 11in).
    • The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 110cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 82cm (2ft 8in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side (on top of the cistern).
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a push button flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is low.
    • 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 low.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • 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 and general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 114cm and 149cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is low.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 112cm (3ft 8in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is high.
    • 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).
    • The height of the wash basin is 68cm (2ft 3in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is low.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 82cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 99cm.
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is low.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
  • Comments View
    • A programmed university swipe card is required to access the Level A corridor via the Music Department internal entrance from the Music Department Lift.

Standard Toilet(s) (Corridor A - Rear Left)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located in the rear left corridor level A.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 20m from the Music Department lift.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • A programmed university swipe card is required to access the Level A corridor via the Music Department internal entrance from the Music Department Lift.