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Albert Square Shopping Area Guide

45 Widnes Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 6JW

Access Guide

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Overview

  • This is a guide to Albert Square Shopping Area.
  • The shopping area consists of Albert Road which is pedestrianised and the U shaped shopping area which consists of Gossard Street which joins Albert Road by Coral Bookmakers and runs up to WHSmith at the top, then turns left and runs down to BonmarchĂ© where it meets Kent Street, which runs from Albert Road up to the public toilets.
  • There is a free car park which is accessed via South Street to the southwest side of the shopping area. There is step free access to the shopping area from the car park.
  • To the northeast of the shopping area is Morrisons, which has a large car park that may be used by shoppers also using the supermarket.
  • To the southeast there is step free access to a large two level car park for Widnes Shopping Park.

Getting Here

  • By Car
  • Take the M62 to Junction 7
  • At Rainhill Stoops Interchange, take the 2nd exit onto Watkinson Way/A557
  • Continue to follow A557
  • Sharp right onto Ashley Way/A557
  • Slight left onto Ashley Way
  • At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Gerrard St
  • Go through 1 roundabout
  • Turn Right onto Dickson Street
  • Then turn left onto Kent Street
  • You are at the destination.
  • By Bus
  • There is a bus stop at the junction of Albert Road and Leigh Avenue.
  • The busses that stop here are:-
  • 2a, 2b, 14, 14a, 14c, 17, 27a, 62, 62a, 79c, 500, X5
  • By Train
  • The nearest train station is
  • Widnes station
  • Victoria Avenue
  • Widnes
  • Cheshire
  • WA8 7TJ
  • https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/WID.

Parking (Albert Square Shopping Area Car Park)

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park is located to the side of the shopping area, off South Street.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There is/are 5 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 400cm x 500cm (13ft 1in x 16ft 5in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 10m (10yd 2ft) from the side entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 25m (27yd 1ft) from the side 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 a dropped kerb between the car park and the venue.
    • The dropped kerb does have tactile paving.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Albert Road - Market Hall Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the north end of the street, on the east side, and connects the Market Hall with the street.
  • There is slightly uneven ramped access at this entrance which alternates between slight and steep.
  • There are large double gates that are permanently held open at the entrance.
  • The clearance at the gates is 265cm.
  • The surface here is block paving and is uneven in places.

Albert Road - Winfield Way Entrance

  • This entrance is located in the middle of the street to the east side.
  • There is a slight slope at this entrance.
  • There is a locked gate which is for the use by emergency services.
  • To either side of the gate the is 140cm clearance between the bollards and the wall.
  • The surface here is block paving in the centre and paving slabs to either side.
  • There are 4 on street Blue Badge bays located by this entrance.
  • The dimensions of the Blue Badge bays are 600cm long by 200cm wide.

Albert Road - Ferrant Street Entrance

  • This entrance is located towards the south of the road, on the east side.
  • There is level access at this entrance.
  • There is a locked gate which is for the use of the emergency services.
  • To either side of the gate the is 140cm clearance between the bollards and the wall.
  • The surface here is concrete paving slabs and block paving.

Albert Road - New Street Entrance

  • This entrance is located towards the south of the road, on the east side.
  • The entrance allows access to Albert Road from the Widnes Shopping Park.
  • There is level, step free access at this entrance.
  • The entrance is approximately 20m wide.
  • The surface here is a combination of concrete paving slabs and block paving.
  • There are fixed benches located at this entrance.

Albert Road - Pedestrianised Street

  • Albert Road starts at the junction with Rylands Street just in front of the National Westminster Bank.
  • The street is pedestrianised.
  • The surface is level and mainly even.
  • The centre of the street is block paved, with the edges being concrete paving slabs.
  • There are fixed benches which can be used for resting at regular intervals along the street.
  • There are bollards at the north end of the street where it crosses Deacon Road.
  • The bollards are 105cm apart.
  • There is a good colour contrast for the bollards.
  • There is a pedestrian crossing to cross Deacon Road.
  • Albert Road carries on to the north of Deacon Road but is no longer pedestrianised.

Albert Square - Gossage Street, Albert Road Entrance to WHSmith

  • The street runs from its junction with Albert Road, with Coral Bookmakers on the corner up to WHSmith.
  • The street is pedestrianised.
  • There is a slight slope running the full length of the street.
  • The surface here is stone paving slabs with block paving to either side.
  • There are fixed benches available at both the bottom and top of the street.
  • The Viking Grill has outdoor seating available, with the tables and chairs extending out into the middle of the street.
  • There is no street lighting here.

Albert Square - WHSmith to Bonmarché

  • The street has a slight slope of 2 degrees across it.
  • The street is pedestrianised.
  • The surface is stone paving slabs with block paving to either side.
  • There is no street lighting here.
  • There are benches available outside BonmarchĂ© and outside WHSmith.
  • Cassandra's has seats and tables outside which extend into the paved area.

Albert Square - Kent Street; Junction with Albert Road Entrance to Public Toilets

  • The street has a slight slope along the length of it.
  • The street is pedestrianised.
  • There are fixed benches at intervals along the street.
  • The surface here is stone paving slabs interspersed with areas of block paving and with block paving to either side.
  • The surface is mostly even.
  • There is no street lighting here, except for at the top of the street by the public toilets.

Accessible Toilet (Female)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is tactile, pictorial and Braille signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the female standard toilet entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located within the female standard toilet, to the west side of the shopping area.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is not a unisex toilet.
    • There is a separate male accessible toilet available.
    • 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 88cm (2ft 11in).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 145cm x 200cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 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 64cm (2ft 1in).
    • There is no dropdown rail for the toilet.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is not a mixer tap.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • Disposal facilities are not available in the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • 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 50cm (1ft 8in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • 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 placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 84cm (2ft 9in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are ultraviolet.

Accessible Toilet (Male)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • 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 2m (2yd 7in) from the male standard toilet entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located within the male standard toilet, on the west side of the shopping area.
    • There is not level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is not a unisex toilet.
    • There is a separate female accessible toilet available.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a sliding bolt.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 145cm x 200cm (4ft 9in x 6ft 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 left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 60cm (1ft 12in).
    • There is no dropdown rail for the toilet.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is push.
    • There is not a mixer tap.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • Disposal facilities are not available in the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • 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 a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The shelf is not higher than 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • 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 45cm (1ft 6in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • 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 can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are ultraviolet.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Female Toilet(s) View
    • The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the west side of the shopping area.
    • The female toilet(s) is/are approximately 60m (65yd 1ft) from the Albert Square Shopping Area Car Park side entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels are ultraviolet.
  • Access to Standard Male Toilet(s) View
    • The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the west side of the shopping area.
    • The male toilet(s) is/are approximately 55m (60yd 5in) from the car park side entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is not level access to the male toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels are ultraviolet.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located within the female standards toilet.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 110cm (3ft 7in).
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1-4 show the female standard toilets.
    • Photographs 5- 7 show the male standard toilets.

Level Change (Accessible Male and Standard Male Toilet)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp or slope is located to the left as you face the entrance.
  • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on the right going up.
  • The width of the ramp/slope is 130cm (4ft 3in).

Access Guides Available For (Albert Square Shopping Area)