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Summerhill Country Park Visitor Centre

Summerhill Lane, Hartlepool, TS25 4LL

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Access Guide

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Introduction

Location

  • There is not a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Hartlepool.

Opening Times (Visitor Centre)

  • Monday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Thursday 09:00 - 17:00.
  • Friday 09:00 - 16:30.
  • Saturday 10:00 - 14:00.
  • Sunday 10:00 - 15:00.

Opening Times (Daisy Bees Café)

  • Monday 10:00 - 16:00.
  • Tuesday 10:00 - 15:00.
  • Wednesday 10:00 - 15:00.
  • Thursday 10:00 - 16:00.
  • Friday 10:00 - 15:00.
  • Saturday 10:00 - 14:30.
  • Sunday 10:00 - 15:00.

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located at the front of the site, off Summerhill Lane.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot booked in advance.
    • There is/are 4 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 320cm x 450cm (10ft 6in x 14ft 9in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 21m (22yd 2ft) from the Visitor Centre main entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 27m (29yd 1ft) from the Visitor Centre main entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are uneven surfaces.
    • The car park surface is loose chippings.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • There are bollards between the car park and the entrance.
    • The minimum width between the bollards is 121cm.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the Visitor Centre.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 154cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 170cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • Comments View
    • There are bollards on the approach from Summerhill Lane to the entrance.
    • The minimum width between the bollards is 114cm.

Entrance (Reception)

  • This information is for the entrance located on the left as you enter the Visitor Centre, between the two sets of doors.
  • Entrance View
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 75cm.

Reception

  • The desk/counter is 1m (3ft 3in) from the reception entrance.
  • There is level access to the desk/counter from the entrance.
  • The desk/counter is low (76cm or lower).
  • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The type of system is a portable loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested on 04/08/2022.
  • The hearing assistance system was working at the time of testing.

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service(s).
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The system is a fixed loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested on 04/08/2022.
  • The hearing assistance system was working at the time of testing.
  • This venue does play background music.
  • Music is played in the exhibition hall and activity room during some sessions and events.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Comments View
    • There is an uneven flagstone surface in the main area of the Visitor Centre.
    • There are 2 fixed loops.
    • The fixed loops are located in the 2 halls.

Activity Room and Exhibition Hall

  • The Activity Room and Exhibition Hall are located to the left as you enter the Visitor Centre.
  • There is step-free access to the Activity Room and Exhibition Hall.
  • The Activity Room and Exhibition Hall are 8m from the main entrance.
  • The rooms have a moveable dividing wall and can be hired as one large room or two smaller rooms and the doors are double.
  • The doors open towards you (pull) and the doors are heavy with a clear door width of 174cm.
  • There is a climbing wall.
  • There are height tables and the height to the underside of the tables is 67cm.
  • There are seats that do not have armrests.

Eating and Drinking (Daisy Bees Café)

  • The following information is for the café.
  • The café is located ahead as you enter through the Visitor Centre.
  • Full table service is not available.
  • Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.
  • Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
  • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
  • The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 68cm (2ft 3in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 69cm (2ft 3in).
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Plastic / takeaway cups are available.
  • Plastic / takeaway cutlery is available.
  • Drinking straws are available.
  • Menus are wall only.
  • Menus are not available in Braille.
  • Menus are not available in large print.
  • Picture menus are not available.
  • Menus are clearly written.
  • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
  • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • Comments View
    • There is a coffee table with a surface height of 30cm and there are two sofas.

Accessible Changing Room

  • There are accessible changing rooms available.
  • The accessible changing room is located to the centre right of the building as you enter.
  • The facility is 14m (15yd 11in) from the main entrance.
  • The door opens outwards.
  • The width of the door is 85cm (2ft 9in).
  • The door is locked by a locking handle.
  • The dimensions of the accessible changing room are 183cm x 163cm (6ft x 5ft 4in).
  • The toilet does 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 167cm (5ft 6in).
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • There is a flush on the transfer side.
  • Wall mounted rails are available.
  • The toilet seat is 45cm (1ft 6in) above floor level.
  • There is a sink.
  • The sink can be reached from seated on the toilet.
  • The height of the sink is 69cm (2ft 3in).
  • The tap type is lever.
  • There is a mixer tap.
  • There is an emergency alarm in the cubicle.
  • The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
  • There is not a locker within the accessible changing room.
  • There is a changing bench.
  • The facility changing bench is wall mounted.
  • The facility changing bench height is fixed.
  • The length of the bench is 165cm (5ft 5in).
  • There is a wheel in shower.
  • The facilities available in the accessible shower are an adjustable shower head and a flip-down seat.
  • The height of the seat is 51cm (1ft 8in).
  • Comments View
    • There is a baby change facility in the accessible changing room.
    • The height of the baby change when extended is 89cm.

Accessible Toilet

  • The accessible toilet is located in the accessible changing room.

Standard Toilet(s)

Additional Info

  • Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents can be requested in Braille.
  • Documents can be requested in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • An assistance dog toilet area can be provided onsite.
  • The assistance dog toilet area is located throughout the country park.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
  • Home visits / services are not available.