New Hampton Hill Library consultation

January 26 site visit to new library having given views and suggestions on the plans in August 2009

The Environment Directorate Disability Access Group (EDDAG) has been set up to ensure that Council property refurbishments and new buildings meet the needs of people with disabilities.

At the group meeting on 4 August 2009, the new Hampton Hill Library plan was one of the schemes discussed. As has now been built and furnished, the group were invited by Malcolm Nixon, the Council Architect on the scheme, to a site visit for their assessment. By visiting the new facility the group were able to check that their comments had been taken on board, and also to consider whether there were other issues.

Statement from EDDAG group  members 26 January 2010

It is fantastic to come and see that the problems we raised and the suggestions we made when assessing the plans for the new library, back in our August EDDAG meeting, have all been addressed.

The disabled toilet, which we are told is the first of its kind in the wave of council library building refurbishments, is particularly good as the council has taken on board all of our comments. The wheelchair users in the group tried out the bi-fold door, which works really well.

EDDAG group meeting - feedback on the site visit to the library 26 January 2010

The following document is an extract from the August meeting minutes along with what has been undertaken as a result of the comments.at the August meeting.

Download the EDDAG document here.(pdf, 22KB)

Positive feedback on the new library EDDAG group 26 January 2010

  1. All members of the group were delighted with the end result and very excited about using the library in the future.
  2. Wheelchair users tried out the ‘push button' at the entrance/exit and were happy with the result.
  3. The automatic door and ramp at the entrance work well.
  4. The fact that there is an induction loop for the deaf and hard of hearing is appreciated (as long as its presence is clearly indicated by the yellow sticker).
  5. The lighting works well and colour contrast of the walls is really helpful for people with visual impairments.
  6. The counter height at the end is a good height for wheelchair users, although there is some concern about a potential bottleneck around this space as it is to be used for both ‘in’ and ‘out’ books.
  7. The tables are a good height for wheelchair users.
  8. The table without a computer with ‘disabled priority’ is great. A reading slope would be helpful for this table.
  9. The height of the shelves good.
  10. The disabled toilet is excellent. The new idea of a bi-fold door to the toilet is so easy for wheelchair users to open and close and it seems to glide open. The black coloured support rails and seat in the toilet, as requested, will really help people with visual impairments as they stand out brilliantly against the cream walls.

There are further suggestions/requests which arose from the visit to newly built library, some of which are:

  • There are no disabled bays in car park behind. Need 2 designated.
  • Sign of ‘opening hours’ on outside wall would be better if dark colour on light background ie black on white, not pale blue on silver as described.
  • Not happy with fence outside as it is obstructing access to the pavement. Concern about general safety (antisocial behaviour) and Emergency Exit.