Access Guide
Introduction
- Related link Blackheath Village Community Library.
- Https://www.accessable.co.uk/london-borough-of-lewisham/access-guides/blackheath-village-community-library
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Comments
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- Services/facilities within the building include:.
- Upper Ground level - café, reminiscence lounge, box office, accessible computer, access to garden.
- Lower Ground - Blackheath Library, meeting/ training room, accessible toilets .
- Basement (The Pit) - computer suite.
- Services/facilities within the grounds include Old Bakehouse Theatre, garden.
- Age Exchange works with older people to improve their quality of life by valuing their reminiscences and giving them opportunities for wider appreciation in the form of:.
- •visual and performance arts projects.
- •intergenerational projects.
- •exhibitions.
- •publications.
- •documentary film.
- The centre also provides training courses for professional carers of people with dementia and organises support groups for family carers of those with dementia.
- All ages and sections of the community are welcome to use the facilities of the Age Exchange.
Opening Times
- Monday 09:00 - 18:00.
- Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00.
- Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00.
- Thursday 09:00 - 18:00.
- Friday 09:00 - 18:00.
- Saturday 09:00 - 17:00.
- Sunday Closed.
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Comments
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- The centre is also open outside these times for special events and performances in the Old Bakehouse Theatre.
Location
- The venue is situated within the centre of the area.
- This venue is situated in Blackheath.
- The venue is situated on a road which has a steep gradient.
- There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
- The nearest mainline station is Blackheath.
Parking (Staff & Blue Badge Car Park)
- 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 free for Blue Badge holders.
- The car park is located at the rear of the venue.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders can booked in advance.
- There is/are 0 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 0m () from the 0.
- 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 slopes/ramps.
- The car park surface is block paving.
- There is a dropped kerb between the car park and the venue.
- 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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- There is level access from the car park into the main building via the platform lift from the garden to the café.
- Blackheath Station car park (vehicle access off Hurren Close) is opposite the venue.
Parking (On-Street)
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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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- Standard pay & display on street parking is available on Bennett Park Road, Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 19:00, with a maximum 2 hours stay and no return within 2 hours.
Outside Access (Main Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
- There is level access into the venue.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
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Second set of doors
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- The automatic doors are push pad activated.
- The door(s) is / are single.
- The width of the door opening is 84cm (2ft 9in).
Outside Access (Garden Entrance to Cafe)
- This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the venue.
- There is not level access into the venue.
- The main doors open away from you (push).
- The doors are single width.
- The doors are heavy.
- The door opening is 83cm (2ft 9in) wide.
Level Change (Garden Entrance to Cafe)
- There are steps to access this area / service.
- The steps are located leading from the garden to the entrance.
- There is / are 3 step(s) to the area / service.
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The steps are deep.
- The steps do have handrails.
- The handrails are on both sides.
- There is a standard and / or platform lift to access this service.
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Comments
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- The platform lift bypasses the steps.
Lift (Garden Entrance to Cafe)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located in front of the garden entrance.
- The lift is a platform lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are Garden - Upper Ground.
- The platform lift accesses a small level change.
- The lift is 1m (3ft 3in) from garden entrance to cafe.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The clear door width is 77cm (2ft 6in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 80cm x 148cm (2ft 7in x 4ft 10in).
- There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- The lift does not have an audible announcer.
- The controls for the lift are within reach for a wheelchair user.
- The lift controls do not have Braille markings.
- The lift controls do have tactile markings.
Reception (Box Office)
- The reception desk is 10m (32ft 10in) from the lift.
- There is level access to reception from the entrance.
- This is by lift.
- The reception desk is low height.
- Lighting levels are bright.
Inside Access
- There is level access to the service.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
- This venue does play background music.
- Music is played in the cafe.
- Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
- Lighting levels are varied.
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Comments
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- The images are of the reminiscence lounge on the upper ground floor.
Restaurant Bar Internal
- The following information is for the cafe.
- Once inside, there is level access to the service.
- No tables are permanently fixed.
- No chairs are permanently fixed.
- No chairs have armrests.
- The nearest table is 15m (16yd) from the main entrance.
- The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 59cm (1ft 11in).
- The distance between the floor and the highest table is 69cm (2ft 3in).
- Menus are wall only.
- The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
Lift
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located towards the front of the centre.
- The lift is a platform lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are LG-G-UG.
- The lift is 6m (19ft 8in) from main entrance.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 95cm x 150cm (3ft 1in x 4ft 11in).
- There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- The lift does not have an audible announcer.
- The controls for the lift are within reach for a wheelchair user.
- The lift controls do not have Braille markings.
- The lift controls do have tactile markings.
- The lighting level in the lift is bright.
Other Floors (Main Stairs)
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Steps
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- The floors which are accessible by stairs are B-LG-G-UG.
- There are 7-6-9 steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The steps are deep.
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- There is a landing.
- The lighting level is bright.
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Comments
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- The computer suite in 'The pit' (basement) off the lower ground floor level is not served by the lift and is not accessible.
- For this reason there is an additional computer on the upper ground floor, accessible by lift.
Other Floors (Library - Lounge Stairs)
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Steps
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- The floors which are accessible by stairs are LG-UG.
- There are 13 steps between floors.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- The steps are deep.
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- There is a landing.
- The lighting level is medium.
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Comments
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- This second set of stairs links the rear of the library with the reminiscence lounge in the centre of the building.
Accessible Toilet
- There are accessible toilet facilities within this venue.
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Location and Access
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- The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 13m (14yd 8in) from the lift.
- This accessible toilet is located on the lower ground floor, at the rear of the library.
- 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 not required for the accessible toilet.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 78cm (2ft 7in).
- The door is light.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 148cm x 250cm (4ft 10in x 8ft 2in).
- 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 82cm (2ft 8in).
- 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 waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
- There is a/are coat hook(s).
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Position of Fixtures
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- Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
- 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 not a toilet roll holder.
- 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 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 bright.
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Comments
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- There is a second accessible toilet adjacent to (to the left of) the one described.
- This toilet is identical but laid out with the transfer space on the opposite hand (left).
- There is a baby change facility in the left-hand accessible toilet.
- The height of the baby change bench once extended is 78cm ( 2ft 6in) high.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Availability and Location of Standard Toilets
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- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
Outside Access (Theatre Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the theatre.
- There is not level access into the venue.
- The main doors open away from you (push).
- The doors are single width.
- The doors are heavy.
- The door opening is 83cm (2ft 9in) wide.
Level Change (Theatre Entrance)
- There is a ramp or slope to access this service.
- The ramp or slope is located immediately beyond the entrance.
- The ramp or slope is permanent.
- There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
- The width of the ramp or slope is 113cm (3ft 8in).
Theatre (Old Bakehouse Theatre)
- Wheelchairs are left with the patron.
- A companion may sit with you.
- This venue does provide audio described performances.
- There is a hearing assistance system.
- The hearing system is a fixed loop.
- Staff are trained to use the hearing system.
- There is not a wheelchair to borrow.
- Assistance dogs are allowed in the auditorium.
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Comments
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- The Old Bakehouse Theatre is a multi-purpose performance space in a separate building at the rear of Age Exchange.
- The floor is level and without fixed seating, which is arranged according to the use.
- There is a raised stage at one end of the room and a screen which can be used for film screenings.
- The space is also used for tea dances, meetings and other functions.
- There is a small foyer bar/ refreshment area for serving drinks.
Accessible Toilet (Theatre)
- There are accessible toilet facilities within this venue.
- The accessible toilet cubicle was being used for storage at the time of the survey.
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Location and Access
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- The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the theatre entrance.
- This accessible toilet is located on the right of the stair lobby, off the performance space.
- There is level access to this accessible toilet.
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Features and Dimensions
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- This is a unisex toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 80cm (2ft 7in).
- The door is light.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 165cm x 200cm (5ft 5in x 6ft 7in).
- There is 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 left.
- 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 lever.
- There is not a mixer tap.
- There is not an emergency alarm.
- Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Position of Fixtures
View
- Wall-mounted grab rails are not available.
- There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
- 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 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 140cm (4ft 7in).
- There is a toilet roll holder.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is 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.
- There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
- 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 medium.
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Comments
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- Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
- The baby change facilities are located in the theatre accessible toilet.
- The height of the baby change table once extended is 78cm (2ft 6in).
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 and Male Toilet(s)
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- The female and male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located in the lobby off the performance space.
- The female and male toilets are approximately 9m (9yd 2ft) from the theatre entrance.
- Inside the venue, there is level access to the female and male toilets.
- Lighting levels are medium.
Additional Info
- Staff do not receive disability awareness / equality training.
- Documents are not available in Braille.
- Documents are available in large print.
- A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.
- Staff are Text Relay aware.
- Plastic cups are not available.
- Plastic cutlery is not available.
- Drinking straws are available on request.
- Children are welcomed at the venue.