Access Guide
Introduction
- Services / facilities within the grounds include woodland, parkland, wildlife meadows, a children's play area and an outdoor gym.
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Comments
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- 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.
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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.
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Venue Car Park
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- 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.
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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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- 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)
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Access Point
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- 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.
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Ramp/Slope
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- 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).
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Comments
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- 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)
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Access Point
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- 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.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located in front of and beyond the gate.
- The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
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Comments
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- There is uneven ground before and after the gate which can become very muddy.
Access Point (Riverside Road)
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Access Point
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- 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.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located beyond the gate.
- The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
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Comments
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- 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.
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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.
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Location and Access
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- 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.
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Features and Dimensions
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- 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).
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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 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).
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Colour Contrast and Lighting
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- 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.
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Comments
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- 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)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilet facilities are not available.