Vin,
Any building in general terms always has to be fit for purpose in
planning terms. There would be an opportunity to argue that the standard
of access at upper floor level because of the need to use a lift would
not be as good as having facilities n the ground floor. The question
will be is it good enough... Here you may need to obtain support from
any DoH, PCT or general NHS guidance on health centre design.
It would be the role of the Planning Officer to assess the overall
layout and form of the development even though they will not deal
directly with the internal issues.
Anthony Rylands
Access Officer for Disabled People
North Somerset Council
Tel: 01934 634989
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Please consider the environment. Do you really need to print this email?
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Sam Chapman
Sent: 10 October 2006 00:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: GP Surgery on 1st and 2nd floors
I hate to say this but, shouldn't the developer or/and architect taken
into
consideration the fact that wheelchair an impaired mobility access
issues
should be part of their design? Furthermore, the surgery being above
ground
level, means that a lift be built into the design.
I am being very cynical here, but I suspect the developer or
owner/leaseholder are trying a fast one, maybe so that once the building
is
put up, they apply for a grant or financial support etc to install a
lift,
rather than include the lift in the cost of the building. That old often
heard lame excuse, that only young people live in the area, should
clobbered
straight on the head with, Ok, so what happens if someone is disabled
due to
an accident, or a parent has a disabled child?
If this is a planning proposal being put up for acceptance, stand your
ground and get them to try and justify why they should NOT fit a lift in
the
building! A hydraulic lift as made by someone like Phoenix Lifts, is
considerably less than the traditional cable tethered OTIS type lift,
and
someone should point the developer/owner/leaseholder or health authority
in
their direction.
Sam Chapman
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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the
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Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.inclusive-design.it
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
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