Sorry, sent this originally to Vin.
Also, we have just launched our redesigned website at the same address
www.mdpag.org.uk. We have included our Facebook news items on the news
page.
Any comments or suggestions welcome (as we intend to develop it more over
time).
Best wishes
Flick
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Accessible toilets and baby change! + Library Walk
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, December 19, 2014 12:23 am
To: "Vin West" <[log in to unmask]>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many thanks Vin for resending it and thanks Alan for yours also. I have
them now.
It is such a good idea to have these checklists and briefing notes which
extend our Design for Access 2 recommendations.
I would just add some other issues we always come across. Some toilets
have tiny bins with small apertures, which are not accessible for people
using large pads. We always recommend a full length mirror, easily
accessible for wheelchair users and short people and recommend that toilet
design avoids the use of black and white tiled floors (or similar) as they
can be interpreted as steps.
The changing places and alternatively designed facilities are a bit
problematic as facilities designed for two assistants and a hoist may not
be easily used independently. We could do with some more research on the
best designs - maybe anyone involved in the revisions of BS83000 could
recommend this. There is a fairly new changing table toilet provided by
the City Council in the Town Hall extension with a number of design errors
- one obvious one is that the instructions for using the hoist are so tiny
and with all the usual errors identified in the clear print guidelines!
Another example of not considering all elements as part of the overall
design.
We also agree that there should be shelves for ostomy users and others but
find that most of the restaurants, pubs and clubs in Manchester refuse to
put these in, as they say they are used for misuse of drugs!
When we wrote Design for Access 2 with the City Council, we recommended
that the alarm cord should be in the transfer area as if someone falls
while transferring, they would not be able to reach the cord on the other
side but recognise it could create problems. Building Control officers
supported this.
Many thanks for all the suggestions though, really helpful,
With reference to my request earlier for information regarding access
routes and Part M for the public inquiry I was involved with, access
became a very big issue particularly in relation to the alternative route
to the closure of Library Walk.
I couldn't get any information (or even response to my calls and emails)
from DCLG. However, the Building Control section did when they contacted
them after the Inquiry, and I am waiting for information from them.
The whole process was fascinating and became quite complex in relation to
access issues. I am intending to write up some of the issues and will send
to the list when I have completed the report.
One of the crazy outcomes was my cross-examination of an MCC witness over
why acoustics weren't considered for the Link building between the Library
and the Town Hall Extension, in the Design and Access Statements, and was
told that it wasn't necessary as the Link wasn't a building! It was all
over Twitter. I don't use Twitter so there wasn't much about the access
issues but if anyone would like to follow the Twitter comments on the
Library Walk Inquiry, I think it is under #savelibrarywalk and there is a
Facebook page also, "Save Library Walk!".
The Inspector's response is not expected until the New Year.
Best wishes
Flick
Chair, Manchester Disabled People's Access Group
----------End of Message----------
Run by SURFACE for more information on research, teaching and consultancy:
http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
|
