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Scottish Seabird Centre

Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, EH39 4SS

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • For information about the opening hours please click here.
  • Amenities at this site include: a reception, a café and exhibition rooms.
  • There is not onsite parking available here and there is designated Blue Badge on street parking nearby.
  • The most accessible entrance has manual doors, a slight ramp/slope and automatic doors.
  • There are 2 step-free entrances.
  • This does include the main entrance.
  • The entrance surveyed is the the main entrance at the south end of the building.
  • The building has 2 floors once inside.
  • There is step free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
  • There is stepped or platform lift access to the Discovery Experience on the lower floor.
  • There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
  • This venue also has the following available: seating and a companion/carer discount.
  • The following mobility aids are available to borrow: a mobility walker and a wheelchair. For more information on any hire fees or booking requirements, please contact the venue.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations for disabled people and step free standard toilets.
  • There is/are 1 toilet(s) designated as accessible.
  • The accessible toilet surveyed can be found on the ground floor.
  • This accessible toilet surveyed is approximately 29m from the main entarnce.
  • The standard toilets surveyed can be found on the ground floor, in the corridor with the accessible toilet.
  • The Discovery Experience has some sensory experiences. These can be flexible and moulded to the needs of the visitor.
    Although this site has no on-site parking, visitor parking is available at Kings Port Road car park which is approximately a four minute walk to the venue.
    On-street parking is unlimited and free and disabled parking bays are available on Melbourne Road.

Opening Times

  • Comments View
    • January 10:00 - 16:00
    • February, March, September and October 10:00 - 17:00
    • April - August 10:00 - 18:00
    • November - December 10:00 - 16:00.

Parking (Melbourne Road - Accessible Parking)

  • This venue does not have a car park.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 500cm x 210cm.
  • There is no hatched zone.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 80m from the main entrance.
  • Obstacles from the Blue Badge bays to the entrance include: uneven surfaces.
  • Nearby parking includes: standard on-street parking.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • The above relates to the three Blue Badge bays which are on the road and closest to the venue. There are a further two disabled bays on Melbourne Road (photo1). These two bays measure 520cm by 210cm, with no hatched zones.
    This road also provides free unlimited, anytime parking on the seaward side of the road.

Parking (Kirk Ports Road - Venue Parking)

  • This venue has a car park.
  • This is an open air car park with a tarmac and loose chippings surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • This is the venue's free car park for visitors to the centre which is 0.2 miles (approximately 4 minutes walk) along Quality Street and then onto Victoria Road.
    This route is along narrow and uneven pavements. Visitors using this route will also have to cross over the junction of Forth Street and Melbourne Place as they move from Quality Street to Victoria Road.

Public Transport

  • There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • Eve coaches run service 120 which passes the Seabird Centre. For more information please use this link.: - ttps://www.eveinfo.co.uk/contact-us/.
  • The nearest train station is North Berwick.
  • ScotRail run trains through North Berwick station, for more information please use this link: -https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/NBW.aspx.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • The entrance surveyed is located Main (South) Entrance.
  • There is step-free access at this entrance, via ramp/slope.
  • The slope has a width between 75cm and 150cm and a slight gradient .
  • There are double automatic doors (with one door locked) which open towards you.
  • The door is activated by a push pad at a suitable height for seated users (between 75cm - 100cm).
  • The width of the opening is 97cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 90cm.

Reception (Information)

  • There is step-free level access to this reception.
  • The height of the reception counter is 90cm.
  • There is not a low level desk or counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
  • There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
  • The counter does not have a hearing assistance system.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access via lift, throughout the majority of the venue.
  • There are bench seats, stools and chairs with armrests throughout the building.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
  • The building does not have a hearing assistance system.

Stairs

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are The Discovery Experience on the lower floor.
  • There are 15+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • This is a spiral staircase and will be narrower in some areas.
  • A one way system operates for the Discovery Experience. After purchasing your ticket at the Information Deck on the ground floor take the stairs or the lift, both of which are located near the north end of the building.
    At the end of your visit to the Discovery Experience the exit is via a different set of stairs (clearly marked as "Exit") or the lift.

Lift (Ground Floor to Discovery Experience)

  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are Ground Floor to Lower Floor (Discovery Experience).
  • Externally the lift has: buttons with a medium colour contrast to the surroundings and a door with a medium colour contrast to the surroundings.
  • The lift door opening width is 81cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 140cm x 106cm.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator, controls at a recommended height range (between 90cm - 110cm), a mirror to aid reversing and buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings.
  • The lift has a weight limit of 630Kg (8 Persons).

Attraction / Exhibit (Discovery Experience)

  • There is step-free access via lift or stepped access to and throughout this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • The following may be experienced on the tour: lighting effects, interactive video effects, water effects, smoke, fog and or misting effects.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: multi-language audio, touchscreens, tactile, subtitles, television/screen, information board and pictorial.
  • There are bench seats and stools in this area.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Lighting levels are low in this area.
  • The theatre has a capacity of 54 seats with room for wheelchairs at the front and the far side, from the door.

Eating and Drinking (Cafe)

  • This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • There is step-free level access to this area.
  • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered and staff can provide assistance.
  • Menu types include; written wall menus and menu boards.
  • Menus are easy to read.
  • The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups, takeaway cutlery and a portable card machine for payment.
  • There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
  • There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
  • The seating area has: room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm), chairs without armrests and tables which are accessible to wheelchair users.
  • The seating area does not have: tables which are accessible to wheelchair users and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • Tables are at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 70cm - 80cm).
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • This accessible toilet is located via the main entrance past the information desk. At the end of the wall turn right and the door to the toilets corridor is on the right. The accessible toilet is to the left.
  • There is step-free level access into the accessible toilet.
  • This accessible toilet is approximately 29m from the main entrance.
  • There is Braille, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
  • There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a good colour contrast.
  • The door has a twist lock.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 90cm.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 200cm x 155cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the toilet seat but it is obstructed.
  • The lateral transfer space is 92cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, a toilet roll holder on the dropdown rail, the wash basin, the soap dispenser and towel dispenser.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 98cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The height of the wash basin is 73cm.
  • The height of the soap dispenser is 121cm.
  • The height of the towel dispenser is 100cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 90cm.
  • The height of the baby change is 98cm.
  • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height for seated users (within 10cm from the floor).
  • There is not a shelf.
  • The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
  • The height of the coat hook is 128cm from the floor.
  • The cubicle also has: a waste bin with lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
  • The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail and the toilet seat.

Standard Toilet(s) (Male)

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet(s).
  • There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a high colour contrast.
  • The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.

Standard Toilet(s) (Female)

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet(s).
  • There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a high colour contrast.
  • The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.

User Reviews