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Thameside Nature Discovery Park

Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford-Le-Hope, SS17 0RN

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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 right as you enter the visitor centre.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • Female and male step-free standard toilet facilities are located to the right as you enter the visitor centre.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located at the front of the visitor centre.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 237cm (width) x 485cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to one side and the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 129cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 25m from the visitor centre entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access.
    • This route has uneven surfaces.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for all users.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • Electric Vehicle charging points are not available.

Entrance (Visitor Centre)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the visitor centre.
  • 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 ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • There are double manual doors.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • One of the doors was locked at the time of the survey.
  • The locked door can be opened on request.
  • The width of the opening is 91cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high colour contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • One of the doors was locked at the time of the survey.
  • The locked door can be opened on request.
  • The width of the opening is 88cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high colour contrast.

Getting Around (Visitor Centre)

  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • Circulation View
    • Doors are held open along circulation routes.
    • Access throughout may include narrow walkways.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor varies between low and high along circulation routes.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • There is background noise.
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signage is consistent throughout.
    • Seating available in the walkways includes: stools.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Reception

  • Location View
    • The reception is located to the left as you enter the visitor centre.
    • The distance from the visitor centre entrance is 1m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to the reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 91cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the desk.
    • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
    • The reception has a television, windows and patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There is background noise in this area.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right as you enter the visitor centre.
    • The distance from the visitor centre entrance is 5m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • 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 colour contrast.
    • The width of the opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a high colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 138cm (width) x 222cm (depth).
    • There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 74cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • There is no vertical grab rail for the toilet.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a medium colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 101cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a low colour contrast.
    • There is a soap dispenser, however it is not wall mounted.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium colour contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 148cm and 170cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 84cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Stairs

  • The stairs are located ahead and to the right as you enter the visitor centre.
  • The ground and upper ground floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The step markings are not clearly visible.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm-45cm.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Eating and Drinking (Café)

  • Location and Access View
    • The café is located on the upper ground floor of the visitor centre.
    • The most accessible route has a steep ramp.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
    • There is step-free level access into this area.
    • There is open plan access.
  • Order and Payment View
    • This area has a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
    • The service counter was surveyed.
    • The counter is located to the right side of the café.
    • There is step-free level access to the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 91cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The card payment machine is at a height of 91cm.
    • The payment machine is portable.
  • Service View
    • This area also has staff who can provide assistance with ordering.
    • Full table service is not available.
    • Menus types include: wall-mounted.
    • The following dietary requirements can be catered for: gluten free, dairy free, lactose free, vegetarian and vegan.
    • The following are available: drinking straws, takeaway cups and takeaway cutlery.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system which is not clearly signed.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is not 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.
    • The walls and floor colour contrast varies between low and high.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests, armchairs and sofas.
    • Furniture available in this area includes: tables and coffee tables.
    • The surface height of the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
    • The clear height under the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • There is background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Outdoor Spaces

  • About View
    • The following is available in this area: a playground, parkland and walkways.
  • Getting Around View
    • There are unsurfaced paths/trails throughout.
    • Path or trail surfaces consist of: grass and gravel.
    • The majority of the unsurfaced footpaths are not wide enough for wheelchair users.
    • Paths or trails have some sections with potential obstacles such as: uneven surfaces, gates, kissing gates, narrow gaps, overgrowing vegetation and muddy surfaces.
    • There is wayfinding signage in this area.
    • There are seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
    • There is not step-free level access throughout.
    • The following areas have step-free access via slopes or ramps: the outdoor huts and most trails.
  • Playground View
    • The play equipment is within easy reach for seated and standing users and users of different heights.
    • The following play experiences are available: swinging, sliding and climbing.
    • Routes around the play equipment are not firm and even.
    • The majority of routes around the play equipment are at least 150cm wide.