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Millennium Garden

St Edmund's College, Mount Pleasant Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 0BN

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around St Edmund's College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • St Edmund's College is situated to the North East of Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the Campus is located in Mount Pleasant. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • St Edmund's College has limited on-site car parking. The main parking area is located ahead as you enter the College from Mount Pleasant, next to Norfolk Building, where there is 1 Blue Badge parking bay. There is a Blue Badge car park off Mount Pleasant next to the Mount Pleasant Halls Blocks B and G, where there are 4 Blue Badge parking bays. There is also an overflow car park near the Richard Laws Building, where there is 1 Blue Badge parking bay. The overflow car park is clearly signposted from the main car park. Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. At St Edmund's College there are many sheltered cycle stands available off the main car park access road, next to the overflow car park, and also in the area surrounding Mount Pleasant Halls. A sheltered cycle stand for visitors is located outside Bene't House.
    • For more information on getting to St Edmund's College please click here (opens new tab).
    • For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Bus View
    • There is not a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
    • There are bus stops in Castle Street close to the College.
      The bus services that stop in Castle Street include; 5 citi, and 6 citi.
      These bus services give direct links to; Swavesey, Oakington, Bar Hill and the city centre.
      The bus station in Castle Street is approximately 250 metres away from St Edmund's College.
    • For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located in Mount Pleasant. Access is via an ungated access point which is situated to the left of the vehicular entrance (Photograph 1). There are steps at this entrance to the site (Photograph 2). The steps are 15cm deep and are clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up. There is a 4.7 degree slope at the top of the steps leading in from the street (Photograph 3). The surface at this entrance is uneven in places (Photograph 4).
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via a gated pedestrian entrance to Mount Pleasant Halls on Huntingdon Road (Photographs 5 and 6). The gate opens towards from you and is unlocked by either using the intercom (height 114cm) or using the card reader (height 99cm) (Photograph 7). There is a button to unlock the gate for exit (height 90cm) (Photograph 8). There is a 3.3 degree ramp beyond the gate (Photograph 9). There are steps at this entrance to the site (Photograph 10). The steps are 17cm deep and are clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up. These steps can be overcome by using the lifts in Blocks D and E.
    • There is an additional pedestrian entrance on Mount Pleasant which is adjacent to the vehicular exit from the College (Photograph 11). There is a camber to the edge of the access road of 5.0 degrees. The pedestrian walkway is clearly marked and is 64cm wide.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the designated Blue Badge bay in the main area there is open step-free access to the network of paths around external areas of the St Edmund's College site. The site is mostly level or have slight slopes with wide paths (150cm+) but path surfaces do vary (Photographs 12-20).
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the designated Blue Badge car park in the Mount Pleasant Halls area there is open step-free access to the network of paths around the external areas of the Mount Pleasant Halls site. The site has stepped areas with slight ramps which overcome them. The paths are wide (150cm), and the ramps in front of Blocks C and F are 147cm wide. These ramps overcome the steps into the quad in the centre of Mount Pleasant Halls (Photographs 21-25).
    • There is a clearly marked pedestrian crossing giving access between the main area of the College and Mount Pleasant Halls (Photograph 26). There are steps leading between the 2 areas of the site (Photograph 28). The steps can be overcome by using a long 4.0 degree ramp with handrails on both sides (Photograph 29 and 30).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at St Edmund's College have stepped access into and around them (Photographs 31-33). Due to the age of the buildings the staircases do vary in materials and layout. The height and depths of steps are not uniform and neither is lighting, handrail provision/type or step markings. There are some buildings which have been adapted to make them step-free, including access ramps to bypass external steps (Photographs 34-37) and internal lifts to access other floors. The accommodation blocks in Mount Pleasant are a new build and have internal lifts to give access to all floors. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is a variety of directional signage around the site to help those unfamiliar with the layout (Photographs 38 and 39). There is also a map available on the College website to reference. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Norfolk Building and the Common Room in Mount Pleasant Halls Block E.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (Main Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Mount Pleasant.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Norfolk Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked and signposted.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 198cm x 570cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by staff permit holders, visitors and Blue Badge holders.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 9m (9yd 2ft) from the Norfolk Building Main Entrance.

Site/Campus Car Park (Mount Pleasant Halls Blue Badge Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Mount Pleasant.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Blocks B and G.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is block paving.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 232cm x 471cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays have a marked zone to one side and the rear.
    • The marked zone is 130cm wide.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 10m (10yd 2ft) from the Block B entrance.

Site/Campus Car Park (Overflow Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the left hand side of the College site.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Studio Flats and the Richard Laws Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 230cm x 489cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays have a marked zone to one side but not at the rear.
    • The marked zone is 125cm wide.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders and Blue Badge holders.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 165m (180yd 1ft) from the Norfolk Building entrance.

Getting To (The Millennium Garden)

Approach (From the Richard Laws Building)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is tarmac.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent, has a slight gradient.
  • Comments View
    • This approach has various slight slopes due to the uneven nature of the path.

Approach (Access Road to Overflow Car Park)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is tarmac.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
    • There is step-free access on the approach.
  • Comments View
    • This approach is via the vehicular access road to the rear overflow car park.
    • There is a path off the road with a kerb that is 11cm high. The block paved path is uneven, broken in places and initially 90cm wide and is the beginning of the Garden.
    • There is step-free access from the road into the Garden further along the access road. There are very slight slopes in places up onto the grass from the road, with some areas flat to the access road (Photographs 2-4).

Outside Access (Access from Norfolk Building)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the rear of the Norfolk Building.
    • This entrance gives access to the Millennium Garden from the Norfolk Building.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'The Millennium Friendship Garden'.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 106cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The exit push pad or push button is 107cm from floor level.
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 54cm.
  • Comments View
    • The doors are manual and heavy.
    • Despite the push pad to exit the doors are not automatic (October 2022).
    • There are similar doors leading out of the Edspresso Coffee Shop (Photographs 3 and 4).
    • There is a slight lip from the undercover path/cloisters into the Garden (Photograph 5).
    • There is seating for the Edspresso Coffee Shop in the cloister area (Photograph 6).

The Millennium Garden

  • *Open Area*
  • The central area of the Garden consists of grass. The rear of the maisonettes accommodation backs onto the Garden (Photographs 1-3).
  • *Pathways*
  • The pathways in the Garden consist of block paving and asphalt. They are uneven in places, have slight slopes and have trip hazards due to broken paving or sunken covers.
  • The path from the Richard Laws Building direction is 126cm wide and made of asphalt. Its narrowest point is 100cm as it nears the rear door to the Norfolk Building. The path has lighting columns spaced along it. There is a steep slope onto the grass from this path (Photographs 4-8).
  • There are 6 unmarked steps at the side of the Garden which join up the asphalt path with the block paved path (Photograph 9).
  • The block paved path from the access road is uneven and has a narrowest point of 80cm wide between the canopy and vegetation which was slightly overgrown at time of survey (October 2022). This path leads into the separated seating area (Photographs 10-14).
  • *Seating*
  • There is a block paved seating area in the garden. There are two access points. The first access is via 6 unmarked steps that are 15cm high and have treads depths over 45cm from the asphalt path by the rear access into the Norfolk Building (Photographs 17-18).
  • The second is via the block paved path, 90cm wide, that heads through a pergola (Photographs 15-16). This path was overgrown with vegetation which narrows access (October 2022).
  • The area has various benches with backs that are 52cm high and one without a backrest that is 42cm high (Photographs 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23).
  • The seating area has one stone slab which is loose which could be a hazard (Photograph 24).
  • *Canopy*
  • There is a canopy with tables (70-72cm high) that is used for events. This canopy is not present most of the time and is put up specifically for events (photographs 25 and 26).

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the Norfolk Building.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the Norfolk Building.