Access Guide
Introduction
- Services / facilities within the building include Academy, John Lyons, H&T Pawnbrokers, Fonehouse, Post Office, Blue Inc, River Island, Pavers, H&M, Bon Marche, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Timpsons, Toni & Guy, No:1 Currency, Nandini's, Simmons Bakery, Yours, The Works, The Curtain Shop, Spurs Shop, Roman, Trespass, Walkwel, Cuthbert's Toys, Baggage World, Moss Bros, Earnest Jones, Max Spielmann, Esquires Coffee House and the Centre Management Office.
Location
- There is not a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
- The nearest National Rail station is Stevenage.
Opening Times
- Monday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Tuesday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Wednesday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Thursday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Friday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Saturday 09:00 - 17:30.
- Sunday 10:00 - 16:00.
Parking
- The venue does have its own car park.
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Venue Car Park
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- Parking is not free for all users.
- Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
- The car park is located above the shopping centre.
- The car park type is multi storey.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot be booked in advance.
- There is/are 6 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
- The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 490cm x 600cm (16ft 1in x 19ft 8in).
- The nearest designated bay is 4m (4yd 1ft) from the car park entrance.
- The furthest designated bay is 4m (4yd 1ft) from the car park entrance.
- The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user unaided.
- The car park surface is concrete.
- The car park does have a height restriction barrier.
- The maximum height is 190cm (6ft 3in).
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Drop-off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point.
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Comments
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- There are 2 bays for Blue Badge holders on levels 1, 2 and 3.
- The car park is owned and managed by Stevenage Borough Council.
- There are 5 bays for Blue Badge holders located on Westgate at the side of the venue.
- The bays are 390cm x 590cm and allow parking for a maximum of 3 hours whilst displaying a valid Blue Badge.
Parking Information
- There are pay machines located on all levels of the car park.
- The shopping centre is accessed from the car park by automatic doors that are 136cm wide and this is the same on all levels.
- All levels of the car park have a bridge which leads to the lifts, accessing all levels.
Outside Access (Queensway Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located on Queensway.
- There is level access into the venue.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The width of the door opening is 136cm (4ft 6in).
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Comments
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- Either side of the automatic doors are manual doors which are single, heavy, open both ways and are 95cm wide.
Outside Access (The Forum Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located off The Forum.
- There is level access into the venue.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The width of the door opening is 136cm (4ft 6in).
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Comments
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- Either side of the automatic doors are manual doors which are single, heavy, open both ways and are 95cm wide.
Outside Access (Westgate Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located on Westgate.
- There is not level access into the venue.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The width of the door opening is 136cm (4ft 6in).
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Comments
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- There are 3 sets of automatic doors at this entrance.
- The centre doors open away from you and the automatic doors on each side open towards you.
Level Change (Westgate Entrance)
- There is a ramp or slope to access this service.
- The ramp or slope is located leading down to the entrance.
- The ramp or slope is permanent.
- The ramp does have handrails.
- The handrails are on both sides.
- There is a / are step(s) to access this area / service.
- The step(s) is / are located leading down to the entrance.
- There is / are 2 step(s) to the area / service.
- There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the steps.
- The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
- The step(s) is / are medium height.
- The steps do have handrails.
- The handrails are on both sides.
- The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
Reception (Centre Management)
- The desk/counter is 2m (2yd 7in) from the centre management entrance.
- There is level access to the desk/counter from the entrance.
- Level access to the desk/counter is via lift.
- The desk/counter is high (110cm+).
- The desk/counter does not have a low (76cm or lower) section.
- The lighting levels are bright.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
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Comments
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- The centre management office is located on the first floor of the shopping centre. It is accessed by a manual, single door which opens away from you, is light and is 82cm wide.
- There is an intercom at the entrance which is 112cm from the floor.
Inside Access
- There is level access to the service.
- This venue does play background music.
- Music is played throughout the shopping centre.
- Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
- The lighting levels are bright.
Eating and Drinking (Esquires Coffee House)
- The following information is for the cafe.
- The cafe is located on the ground floor of the shopping 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.
- Some tables are permanently fixed.
- Some chairs are permanently fixed.
- No chairs have armrests.
- The nearest table is 8m (8yd 2ft) from the ground floor lift.
- The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 69cm (2ft 3in).
- The distance between the floor and the highest table is 96cm (3ft 2in).
- The standard height for tables is 69cm.
- There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
- Takeaway cutlery is available.
- Drinking straws are available.
- Menus are wall only.
- 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 snacks.
Other Floors
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Steps
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- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1-2-3.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The steps are deep (18cm+).
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- There is a landing.
- The lighting levels are bright.
Lift
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located centrally within the shopping centre.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are G-1-2-3.
- The lift is 52m (56yd 2ft) from the Queensway and Forum entrances.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The clear door width is 107cm (3ft 6in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 150cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 11in).
- There are not 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 controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting level in the lift is bright.
Toilet with Adaptations
- Accessible toilet facilities are available.
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Location and Access
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- The toilet is for the sole use of disabled people.
- There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 14m (15yd 11in) from the lift.
- This accessible toilet is located on the first floor.
- There is level access to this accessible toilet.
- This is by lift.
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Features and Dimensions
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- This is a unisex toilet.
- A key is required for the accessible toilet.
- The key is a radar key.
- The key can be obtained from the centre management reception.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The door is light.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 145cm x 190cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 3in).
- 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 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 not fully functional.
- The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
- Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
- There is a/are non-infectious waste and sanitary disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Position of Fixtures
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- 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 a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- The shelf is not higher than 95cm (3ft 1in).
- There is a mirror.
- Mirrors are not 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 placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The height of the hand dryer is 120cm (3ft 11in).
- There is not a towel dispenser.
- 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).
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Colour Contrast and Lighting
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- The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
- There is a low colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
- There is a poor colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are medium.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Access to Standard Female Toilet(s)
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- The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located on the first floor.
- The female toilet(s) is/are 16m (17yd 1ft) from the lift.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
- This is by lift.
- Lighting levels are bright.
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Access to Standard Male Toilet(s)
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- The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located on the first floor.
- The male toilet(s) is/are 16m (17yd 1ft) from the lift.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the male toilet(s).
- This is by lift.
- Lighting levels are bright.
Baby Change Facility
- Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
- Baby change facilities are located on the first floor in a separate room.
- The height of the baby change table is 93cm (3ft 1in).
Access Guides Available For (Westgate Shopping Centre)
Additional Info
- Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
- 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.