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Foots Cray Meadows

Rectory Lane, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5AG

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the grounds include woodland, parkland, wildlife meadows, a children's play area and an outdoor gym.
  • Comments View
    • Foots Cray Meadows is an area of open parkland and woodland about 2km long.
    • The River Cray runs through its centre, and is crossed by the historic Five Arches Bridge and several smaller footbridges.
    • Areas of the park, including the lake before the bridge, are protected for wildlife.
    • Most of the access points into the park have kissing gates with a bypass gate intended to be opened by RADAR key for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
    • However, it appears that these may be very rarely used and may not operate when needed.

Opening Times

  • The venue is open 24hrs.
  • Comments View
    • Although the car park may be locked overnight, the park itself is not locked.
    • There is no lighting in the park.

Location

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

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located off Rectory Lane and down the narrow road.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do not need to be booked in advance.
    • There is/are 2 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 350cm x 480cm (11ft 6in x 15ft 9in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 10m (10yd 2ft) from the park entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 15m (16yd 1ft) from the park 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 tarmac.
    • 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
    • This car park is small, with space for about 30 vehicles, and is often full.
    • It is near to several access points into the park from Rectory Lane.
    • There are many other access points into the park, including from residential roads such as Riverside Road and St Andrew's Road.
    • There is on-street parking in these areas.
    • Some areas may have bays for resident permit holders which are controlled Monday - Friday 10:00 - 12:00.
    • There is unrestricted on-street parking on Leafield Lane (photographs 5 and 6) and Water Lane, near to other access points into the park.

Access Point (Rectory Lane)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located opposite the entrance to the Rectory Lane car park.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is a kissing gate at this access point.
    • The gate is easy to open.
    • The width of the gap is 90cm.
    • The kissing gate has a RADAR key operated latch which allows it to open fully for access by wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located beyond the gate.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 135cm (4ft 5in).
  • Comments View
    • This access point is shown in photographs 1-6.
    • The area at the foot of the ramp is very worn and uneven, creating a step.
    • Near to this access point, there is a separate kissing gate to allow pedestrians to continue along the private lane towards the visitor centre (photograph 7).
    • This gate would be unsuitable for many wheelchair or mobility scooter users, but could be bypassed by entering the park.
    • There are kissing gates to enter the park from further along the lane, which also have RADAR key operated side gates to bypass them (photographs 8-10).
    • At the time of the survey (April 2021) the gates appeared to be obstructed by plant growth.

Access Point (Leafield Lane)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located off Leafield Lane, from the northbound carriageway of the A223 North Cray Road.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is a kissing gate at this access point.
    • The width of the gap is 90cm.
    • The kissing gate also has a RADAR key operated side gate to bypass it. At the time of the survey (April 2021) the gate appeared to be obstructed by plant growth.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of and beyond the gate.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • Comments View
    • There is uneven ground before and after the gate which can become very muddy.

Access Point (Riverside Road)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Riverside Road, opposite the junction with Betterton Drive.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is a kissing gate at this access point.
    • The gate is easy to open.
    • The width of the gap is 80cm.
    • The kissing gate has a pedestrian gate next to it, which is intended for wheelchair/ mobility scooter users to bypass the kissing gate.
      A RADAR key is required to open the lock.
      At the time of our survey (April 2021) the lock was tested but could not be opened.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located beyond the gate.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
  • Comments View
    • This access point is the closest to the children's playground and outdoor gym.

Parks and Gardens

  • The park or garden does have footpaths.
  • The path(s) has a / have compact earth, tarmac, gravel and muddy surface(s).
  • The majority of the path(s) is / are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There are slight slopes on the paths.
  • Comments View
    • There are some sections of surfaced path on the west side of the park, near to St Andrew's Road and connecting with the Five Arches Bridge.
    • Most paths in other areas are on unmade ground and can become very muddy and uneven (photographs 1 and 2).
    • There is step-free access across the river at Five Arches Bridge (photograph 3) and several smaller bridges, such as one near to the playground (photograph 4).
    • There is a multi-use ball court and outdoor gym next to the children's playground, near the Riverside Road entrance (photographs 5-10).
    • The equipment is located on grassed areas.

Playground

  • The playground is approximately 100m from the Riverside Road entrance.
  • There are tarmac paths to the playground.
  • The gates have an opening of 107cm.
  • There are rubber safety surfaces around the equipment, with some uneven areas.
  • There is are also some climbing frames on grassed areas outside of the enclosed playground.
  • There are some bench seats without armrests in the playground.

Accessible Toilet (Visitor Centre)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 155m (169yd 1ft) from the car park entrance on Rectory Lane.
    • This accessible toilet is located in the visitor centre at the far end of the lane after the car park.
    • 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 outwards.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 84cm (2ft 9in).
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 150cm x 230cm (4ft 11in x 7ft 7in).
    • 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 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is twist/turn.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are not available in the cubicle.
    • 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 not a mirror.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • 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 cannot 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 good.
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • The accessible toilet is only open occasionally, when volunteers from the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows are in attendance.
    • Check for attendance here (link opens in new tab).

Standard Toilet(s)