Access Guide
Getting To and Around Girton College (Swirles Court)
-
Arriving By Car or Bike
View
- Eddington is located to the West of the Cambridge city centre. It can be reached from Junction 13 of the M11 via Madingley Road.
It is South of the Girton College main site. From Huntingdon Road, turn onto Eddington Avenue then take the right fork onto Turing Way. Follow the road around Swirles Court and then turn left onto Pheasants Drive. - There is parking located outside the Porters’ Lodge on Pheasant Drive, including 4 Blue Badge Bays (Photograph 1). There is also parking in the opposite corner of the site, accessed off Turing Way. This contains 3 Blue Badge Bays (Photograph 2). If Blue Badge parking is required, please contact the Porters’ Lodge in advance. For more information on the parking available at Swirles Court, please see the detailed access guides.
Madingley Road Park & Ride is approximately 500 metres away and drivers can park for free for up to 18 hours. The postcode for Madingley Road Park & Ride is CB3 0EZ. - Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. There are bike racks located throughout the Swirles Court site.
- For more information on getting to Swirles Court by road please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
- Eddington is located to the West of the Cambridge city centre. It can be reached from Junction 13 of the M11 via Madingley Road.
-
By Bus
View
- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
- The Universal bus links Cambridge Rail Station, the Biomedical Campus and many other University campuses to Eddington, where it stops opposite Sainsbury’s.
From the main bus station, take the citi 5 or 6 buses to Huntingdon Road (alight at Thornton Road) or the X3 or citi 4 buses to Madingley Road (alight at the British Antarctic Survey). You can also take the Madingley Road Park & Ride bus from the city centre (there is a stop outside the Grand Arcade shopping centre) to the Madingley Road Park & Ride site. - Cambridge City Centre Bus Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
- For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
-
By Train
View
- The nearest Railway Station is Cambridge.
- Cambridge Train Station is approximately 5.5 kilometres from the Postdoc Academy. From here take the Universal Bus to Sainsbury's. The station has direct links to London Kings Cross, London Liverpool Street, Cambridge North, Kings Lynn, Stansted Airport, Brighton, Ipswich and Norwich. The rail companies that operate out of this station are; Cross Country, Great Northern, Thameslink and Greater Anglia.
- For more information on Cambridge Station please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on planning a train journey to Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
- Cambridge Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
-
Accessing the College Site
View
- There is level access to the Porters' Lodge from the car park area off Pheasant Drive. There is also a gate leading into the central courtyard here (Photograph 3). There are also gates with level access to the central courtyard on Ridge Way (Photograph 4) and Turing Way (Photograph 5), plus gates with ramped access on Turing Way and Pheasant Drive (Photograph 6). For more information on access to Swirles Court, please see the detailed access guides.
-
Getting Around the College Site
View
- The paths around the central courtyard have a brick, block and gravel surface (Photographs 7-9). They are mainly level, but there are some paths with a slight slope (Photograph 10) which overcome steps (Photograph 11).
- AccessAble Related Links View
Useful Information
- To see more information on University of Cambridge Disability Resource Centre please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 332301.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Accommodation please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 339032.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Undergraduate Admissions please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 338972.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Welfare and Support please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 338972.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Latest Information About Coronavirus (COVID-19) please click here (opens new tab).
Getting To (Accommodation (A, B, C, D Buildings))
-
Location
View
- The main access route to Swirles Court is located off Pheasant Drive Cambridge which is off Turing Way.
Some of the accommodation blocks are accessed directly off Turing Way. - Swirles Court is located to the West of Cambridge, near the West Cambridge site.
- There is not wayfinding signage along the route to Accommodation (A, B, C, D Buildings).
- Other services / Facilities within the building include; the Porter's Lodge, Common Room and Laundry.
- Girton College - Swirles Court link (new tab) - click here.
- Porters' Lodge link (new tab) - click here.
- The main access route to Swirles Court is located off Pheasant Drive Cambridge which is off Turing Way.
Building Parking
- The building does have its own dedicated parking.
-
Building Car Park
View
- The car park can be used by permit holders, visitors and Blue Badge holders.
- There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
- The car park is located in front of the Porters' Lodge.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
- There is/are 4 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
- The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 275cm x 486cm.
- The Blue Badge parking bays have a marked zone to both sides and rear.
- The marked zone is 100cm wide.
- The dimensions of the designated bays do vary in size.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
- The nearest designated bay is 35m (38yd 10in) from the Block A2 Entrance.
- The route from the car park to the building is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is / are uneven surfaces.
- The dropped kerb between the car park and the building does not have tactile paving.
- The car park surface is block paving.
-
Site/Campus Car Parks
View
- There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
-
Public Car Parks
View
- There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
-
On Street Parking
View
- Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are not available.
-
Drop Off Point
View
- There is not a designated drop off point.
Outside Access (Block A2 Entrance)
-
Entrance
View
- This information is for the entrance located at the front of Block A2.
- This entrance gives access to the ground floor of Block A2.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- This entrance is signed with 'A2 45 - 62'.
- There is step-free access at this entrance.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- A key card is required for access at this entrance.
- The height of the key card reader is 114cm.
- The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are single width.
- The door(s) is/are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 92cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
Getting Around
-
Circulation
View
- There are no doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
- The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is carpet.
- Handrails with a rounded or oval profile are not provided in corridors/walkways.
- There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
- There are no seats/chairs at regular intervals.
- The lighting levels are good.
-
Signage
View
- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
-
Safe Place(s)
View
- There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
-
Audio
View
- This venue does not play background music in communal areas.
- There is not a hearing assistance system in the communal areas of the building.
Accommodation
-
Accessible Room Information
View
- This type of accessible room is located on the ground floor.
- There is step-free access to this type of accessible room.
- All accessible rooms of this type have similar specifications.
- Residents need to open a door between the entrance and the room(s).
- The room surveyed does not have an adjoining room.
-
Accessible Room Features
View
- The accessible room surveyed is located to the left of the block.
- The accessible room surveyed at the time of the visit was A2 45.
- There is step-free access to the accessible room surveyed.
- The colour contrast between the external room door and wall is high.
- The door is key card activated.
- The fob/card reader height is 110cm.
- The width of the door is 86cm.
- There are not lowered spy holes available.
- The colour contrast between the internal room door and wall is high.
- The bed height is not adjustable.
- The height of the bed is 48cm (1ft 7in).
- The measurement between the bed base and floor is 30cm (12in).
- The bed is not moveable.
- The room does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm next to the bed.
- The height of the desk is 69cm.
- The desk is not height adjustable.
- The desk knee recess does not have the recommended dimensions of 70cm (height) x 50cm (depth).
- The height and depth of the knee recess is 69cm x 56cm.
- The room surveyed had a desk chair without armrests.
- Wardrobes have not been adapted to allow use from a seated position.
- Light switches are between 75cm and 120cm (4ft) from floor level.
- Electric sockets are between 40cm and 100cm (4ft) from floor level.
- The window control type(s) for the room is a/are standard lever(s).
- The window controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is not an emergency alarm in the room.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
- The type of flooring is carpet.
- The colour contrast between the room walls and floor is high.
- The lighting levels in the room are good.
-
Bathroom Facilities
View
- This information relates to the ensuite.
- The colour contrast between the external bathroom door and wall is high.
- The bathroom door opens outwards.
- The door may be difficult to open.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the door into the bathroom is 85cm.
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The colour contrast between the internal bathroom door and wall is high.
- The dimensions of the bathroom are 250cm x 240cm.
- The bathroom does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The bathroom has a non-slip floor.
- The colour contrast between the bathroom walls and floor is high.
- There is not an emergency alarm within the bathroom.
- There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the bathroom.
- Disposal facilities are not available.
- There is a mirror.
- The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
- There is not a shelf immediately next to or behind the toilet.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin cannot 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 73cm.
- There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- The tap type is lever.
- There is a mixer tap.
- Taps have clear markings to indicate hot and cold settings.
- There is not a wall fixed soap dispenser.
- The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is medium.
- The lighting levels in the bathroom are good.
-
Toilet Details
View
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
- The toilet seat colour contrast is high.
- The toilet has a cistern.
- There is a lateral transfer space.
- As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
- The lateral transfer space is 148cm.
- There is a flush on the transfer side.
- There is a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is medium.
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- As you face the toilet, the wall mounted grab rails are on the left.
- There is not 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 colour contrast between the wall-mounted grab rails to the left of the toilet and wall is medium.
- There is not a toilet roll holder.
-
Shower Details
View
- The ensuite has a wheel in shower.
- The shower head is height adjustable.
- The shower control type is lever.
- Shower controls do not have clear markings to indicate hot and cold settings.
- There is a flip-down/tip-up seat for the shower.
- The height of the flip-down/tip-up or fixed seat is 60cm.
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available for the shower.
- Horizontal and/or dropdown rails are available on both sides of the shower seat.
- There is a single vertical grab rail to assist standing users.
- The colour contrast between the shower wall-mounted grab rails and wall is medium.
- The colour contrast between the shower dropdown rail(s) and wall is/are medium.
Kitchen/Dining Area
- The kitchen/dining area is accessed by a single door with an opening width of over 75cm.
- The door is not push pad activated.
- The height of the lowest work surface is 86cm.
- The kitchen does have an unobstructed floor space of at least 150cm × 150cm.
- There is a knee recess under a work surface.
- A knee recess is provided adjacent to the oven, the sink and the hob.
- Knee recesses are at least 80cm wide.
- There are some low level cupboards.
- The height of the dining table is 73cm.
- There are dining chairs without armrests only.
- There are kitchens on all floors of the block.
The kitchen surveyed was on the ground floor of the building.
Other Floors
-
Stairs
View
- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located ahead as you enter.
- The stairs are approximately 4m from the A2 Block Entrance.
- The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
- There are manual, heavy, single doors to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 17cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are easy to grip.
- Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
-
Other Information
View
- The room(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are standard accommodation room on the first and second floors.
Toilet with Adaptations
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located within the Porters' Lodge.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
- The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located within the Porters' Lodge.