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Balham Library

16 Ramsden Road, Balham, London , SW12 8QY

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Access Guide

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Overview

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the rear of the library.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located at the rear of the library.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the toilet with adaptations.

Parking

  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street designated Blue Badge parking and standard parking is available.
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located in Ramsden Road.
    • The Blue Badge bays are signposted and have markings which are faded.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 114cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • The minimum width between the security barriers is 107cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception

  • The reception is located to the right of the building.
  • The distance from the entrance is 4m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 76cm.
  • The reception has glazed screens and windows.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 109cm to 112cm from the floor.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • Access throughout may include manual doors.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs with armrests.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Library

  • There is step-free level access throughout the library, this may include the use of a lift.
  • Access throughout the library may include manual doors and doors permanently held open.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
  • Seating available in the library includes: chairs with armrests and chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in the library includes: tables.
  • The surface heights are suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear underside space of the surfaces is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This library is able to provide material in the following formats: Braille, large print, ebook, ejournal and audio.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, at the rear of the building.
    • The distance from the entrance is 7m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and doors permanently held open.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 84cm.
    • The door has a locking handle (with a RADAR key to access).
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 110cm (width) x 156cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 100cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 43cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 94cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 70cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 117cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 104cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 70cm.
    • The walls and floor have a low visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to the left of the building.
  • The distance from the entrance is 4m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 131cm (width) x 195cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a low visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the left of the building.
  • The ground and first floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.