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Rainton Meadows Visitor Centre

Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6PU

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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 on the ground floor, ahead from the main entrance.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • The male step-free toilet facilities are located to the corridor to the right of the toilet with adaptations.
  • Changing Places and 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 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are signposted and have markings which are faded.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 230cm (width) x 464cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides but not at the rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 125cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 13m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • A parking donation of £2.50 is suggested for non-Durham Wildlife Trust members.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main)

  • 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 with no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door has a locked extension leaf.
  • The locked extension leaf can be opened on request.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 86cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second single manual door.
  • The door has a locked extension leaf.
  • The locked extension leaf can be opened on request.
  • The second door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 90cm.
  • The second door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy ramp as you enter.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas, this may include the use of a lift.
  • Access throughout may include manual doors and doors permanently held open.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • Signage is clearly visible with high contrasting colours.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Eating and Drinking (The Meadows Coffee Shop)

  • Location and Access View
    • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into this area.
    • There is a single manual door with a high visual contrast.
    • The door is permanently held open.
    • The width of the opening is 79cm.
  • Service View
    • This area has numerous seating options, a counter where food and drink can be ordered and staff who can provide assistance with ordering.
    • Full table service is not available.
    • Menus are handheld, available on a board and displayed on the counter.
    • The following dietary requirements can be catered for: gluten free, nut allergy and vegetarian.
    • The following are available: takeaway cups, takeaway cutlery and drinking straws.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Order and Payment View
    • The service counter was surveyed.
    • The counter is located to the left of the coffee shop entrance.
    • There is step-free level access to the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 90cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds and windows.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
    • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
    • Seating available in this area includes: sofas and chairs without armrests.
    • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables and tables.
    • The surface height of some of the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • The clear height under the tables is not suitable for wheelchair users.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • An external takeaway hatch is available at a height of 92cm.

Shop (Rainton Meadows Gift Shop)

  • Getting Around View
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the shelving and floor throughout this area.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • The venue has a payment counter.
  • Payment Counter View
    • Signage is not provided for the counter.
    • The payment counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
    • The height of the payment counter is 101cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The card payment machine is portable.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Room (Ground Floor - Belamy Meeting Room)

  • The room is located on the ground floor, to the left of the main entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 7m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There is written text signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door with a high visual contrast.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 80cm.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the room.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
  • Seating available in the room includes: sofas and chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in the room includes: tables and long tables.
  • The surface heights are suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear underside space of the surfaces is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Additional facilities/services include: a wash basin.
  • There is background noise in this area which varies depending on the function/event.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, ahead from the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 7m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 132cm (width) x 265cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 46cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 94cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 67cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the right as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 93cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 123cm from the floor.
    • 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 and a waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 84cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (Chair Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located ahead and to the right of the main entrance.
  • This lift is a chair stair lift.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift seat is 51cm from the floor.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located ahead and to the right of the main entrance.
  • The ground and first floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 16 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is not easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • These stairs have a stair lift to gain access to the first floor.

Room (First Floor - Attenborough Teaching / Meeting Room)

  • The room is located on the first floor.
  • The distance from the stair lift is 3m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • There is written text signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door with a high visual contrast.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 79cm.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the room.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
  • Seating available in the room includes: chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in the room includes: tables and long tables.
  • The surface heights are suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear underside space of the surfaces is not suitable for wheelchair users.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is background noise in this area which varies depending on the function/event.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.