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Sopwell and Verulam Family Centre

c/o Mandeville Primary School, Mandeville Drive, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 2LE

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include a reception, indoor play area, outdoor play area, accessible toilet and standard female and male toilets.

Opening Times

  • Please contact the venue for details of opening times.

Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is St. Albans Abbey.
  • Comments View
    • The nearest bus stop is on Trumpington Drive, approximately 0.1 miles away and is served by the S4 Circle Line - St Albans and the S5 Circle Line - St Albans.
    • St. Albans Abbey Railway Station is approximately 0.8 miles away.

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located in front of and to the right of the venue.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot booked in advance.
    • There is/are 3 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 250cm x 470cm (8ft 2in x 15ft 5in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 8m (8yd 2ft) from the entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 13m (14yd 8in) from the 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 dropped kerbs.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is a dropped kerb between the car park and the venue.
    • The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
    • 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.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the venue.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The main automatic door(s) is/are push pad or push button activated.
    • The push pad or push button is 95cm from floor level.
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The width of the door opening is 94cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • 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 128cm.
  • Comments View
    • The push pad for exiting is at a height of 100cm.

Reception

  • The desk/counter is 2m (2yd 7in) from the entrance.
  • There is level access to the desk/counter from the entrance.
  • The desk/counter is low (76cm or lower).
  • The lighting levels are good.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • There is a storage cupboard in front of the reception which limits access.
    • The storage cupboard is 73cm high.

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does play background music.
  • Music is played depending on the activity.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Inside Play Area

  • The inside play is located to the left of the reception desk.
  • There are two doors that can be used to enter the play area, one to the left of the reception desk and the other behind the reception desk.
  • Both doors have opening widths of 83cm.
  • Chairs with and without armrests are available
  • There is a sink in the play area.
  • The surface of the flooring is vinyl.
  • Lighting levels are good.
  • The room can be split into two with a concertina wall.
  • There are a set of double doors off this area, that lead to the outside play area (photographs 17 and 18).
  • The doors open away from you (push) to a width of 142cm.
  • The doors may be difficult to open.
  • There is 1 step at this entrance/exit.

Outdoor Play Area

  • The outdoor play area is accessed via the double doors from the inside play area.
  • There is also access to this area from the car park via a wooden gate with a width of 97cm.
  • There is a mixture of play equipment available.
  • The surface of the flooring is block paving and wood chippings.
  • The surface is uneven in places.

Accessible Toilet (Right Transfer)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 3m (3yd 10in) from the second set of entrance doors.
    • This accessible toilet is located to the right of the reception desk.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens inwards.
    • The door is locked by a lever twist.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 84cm (2ft 9in).
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 160cm x 270cm (5ft 3in x 8ft 10in).
    • There is not sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are sanitary, non-infectious waste and waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • 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).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 83cm (2ft 9in).

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Female Toilet(s) View
    • The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the right of the reception desk.
    • The female toilet(s) is/are approximately 6m (6yd 1ft) from the second set of entrance doors.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels in the female toilets are moderate to good.
  • Access to Standard Male Toilet(s) View
    • The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the right of the reception desk.
    • The male toilet(s) is/are approximately 1m (3ft 3in) from the second set of entrance doors.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the male toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels in the male toilets are moderate to good.

Additional Info

  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are not available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
  • This service cannot be requested.
  • Home visits / services are not available.