One Voice - action for disability
One Voice Access Group has had 3 meetings with the Wolverhampton City Council Access Officer and project managers regarding the plans for the new Bilston Leisure Centre.
These are some of the problems disabled people have raised that have not yet been addressed:
Outside
We could not tell from the drawings if dropped kerbs have been provided and requested flush dropped kerbs with buff blister tactile paving at the new road junction, at all crossings, also flush dropped kerbs are provided near to the disabled parking spaces.
Bays need to be pushed further back into walkway with dropped kerbs
Drop off area – needs to be more like a lay-by this means a disabled parking space needs to be relocated.
Parent/child spaces need to be moved further away to allow for more disabled persons bays. The group rejected the suggestion that parent/child bays should be sacrificed to increase the number of accessible bays. The group would like 10 disabled person’s bays. There should be 6 parent and toddler spaces provided.Bushes/shrubs to be pushed further away from bays.
Benches that are provided should contrast in colour and be a variety of sizes with and without armrests.
Ideally 200m should be the maximum distance from the building to a bus stop - this hasn't been sorted out in advance of the circulation to and through the building. For the design to be inclusive, these things must be in the Design Access Statment before building starts.
We asked to see the Design Access Statement - this has not been forthcoming.
We asked that they ensure adequate lighting at entrances and parking areas.
Signage must be clear and also incorporate the use of pictograms.
Bollards should be avoided as much as possible as they are a hindrance to visually impaired people.
Entrance
We continue to object to the entrance and the layout of the building, and believe it is not inclusive design, because disabled people can only use the back (car park) entrance, which is the tarthest point from the reception and facilities, and requires traversing a large space with no resting points, no visual clues etc.
We beleive the building is the wrong way round.
There should be different coloured flooring to the approach should be from the entrance door to the reception desk.
There were turnstiles in the original plans, we objected to them, they are discouraged by Sport England, but they seem to be back on the plans - turnstyles are not accessible and not disability friendly and their managment usually has the effect of less favourable treatment for disabled people, which is not lawful.
Changing rooms
The route to the furthest changing room on the ground floor is too far and too difficult to get to.
Provide 2 unisex changing rooms off corridor and 1 in female area.
Resting places to be provided along corridor leading to changing rooms.
RADAR locks on disabled person’s changing rooms.
toilets should be provided in changing rooms - this is a necessity for some disabled people.
A number of lockers should be especially for disabled people and the keys kept at reception.
Lockers should also be different colours with keys fobs to match.
Lockers and keys should also have tactile numbers on.
Should be a mix of sizes, disabled people need longer ones.
There should be a poolside area for assistance dogs for users of the pool.
Also within the spectators facility there should be a place for assistance dogs (e.g under the chairs)
For the racing pool – the public announcement system should incorporate a visual display of what is happening.
Vertical Circulation
The lift should measure at least 1100mm by 1800mm in order to accommodate scooter users. Is one lift enough? What if it breaks down – how many people are expected to use other levels? If events/spectators could also be on other courts on other levels this could create a bottle neck, also sports teams who use wheelchairs need to be able to hire the courts.
What is the mending procedure for the lift?
We need to know more about Fire Evacuation procedure – there are lots of levels, lots of stairs - This is a training issue. If the lift is shut off in event of a fire, where are the evac chairs and the refuge areas? What are the escape routes? Will there be adequate staffing and knowledge of where people are? Which stairs are the evacuation stairs – if they are the ones either end of the building – are these situated too far from where the events are occurring?
At the last 2 meetings, the group has raised the issue of how unsatifactory it is to have the cafe on a different level with a proposed indoor paltform lift so that people can get into the cafe from inside. It has been pointed out that these are unreliable and often break down. Also, having to use stairs or a platform lift to get to the cafe is not just difficult for people with mobility impairments and visual impairments but also parents whth children.
There does not seem to be a plan in palce for a wheelchair basketball team to get a drink after practice unless them spend about 15 minutes taking turns to get into the cafe via a platfor lift.
We were told that this was so that the indoor and outdoor seating were on the same level.
The group asked designers to look at managing the change of level via a ramp OUTSIDE the building a ramp hugging the side of the building would allow all customers to easily move from the indoor to outdoor area - we have not yet recieved a response.
If you are interested in this or any other projects and would like to get involved or find out more, contact us