The Rural (East) Dorset Accessibility Guide Updated: July 2010 www.ruraldorset.com 2 East Dorset Accessibility Guide Welcome Thank you for requesting an accessibility guide to Rural Dorset. Please use it in conjunction with the illustrated Rural Dorset and Days Out Guides to plan a break in our beautiful area. We hope that you will find the guide helpful and informative. Whilst we have tried to make it as comprehensive as possible, it does not include information on every attraction, accommodation provider, shop, business or organisation in Rural Dorset. In some instances we have had to rely on information provided by the property/business itself, so when planning a visit we recommend that you double check access and facilities in advance to ensure that your individual needs and wishes can be met. If you would like further assistance in planning a visit contact our staff at the Tourist Information Centre in Wimborne, whose details can be found on the last page. We look forward to welcoming you to Rural Dorset and hope that you enjoy your visit! Rural Dorset Tourism Please forward any comments, reports or feedback to; Rachel Limb, Tourism Officer, East Dorset District Council, Furzehill, Wimborne, BH21 4HN E-mail: [email protected] Updated May 2010 3 Contents Page Travel to East Dorset 5 Travel Around East Dorset 6 Wimborne Minster Town Centre Map 9 Car Parking in East Dorset 10 Accommodation Hotels and Lodges 12 B&B/Guesthouses 14 Self-catering Properties 18 Camping, Caravan & Holiday Parks and Homes 22 Attractions and Related Facilities 25 Other Services of Interest 35 Leisure Time 37 Information Services on Disability Matters in Dorset 38 Accessible Public Toilets in East Dorset 40 Medical Information and Contacts 41 National Accessibility Schemes 42 Further Information 44 4 East Dorset Accessibility Guide Travel to East Dorset Coach Travel National Express Services Routes to Bournemouth and Poole ✆✆ Telephone: 08717 818181 www.nationalexpress.com Rail Travel The nearest stations are at Poole and Bournemouth. ✆✆ National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 Minicom: 0845 6050 600 www.nationalrail.co.uk South West Trains South West Trains Assisted Travel Telephone Line: 0800 5282 100 A travel assistance Freephone service for passengers with impairments to book at least 24 hours in advance of travel ✆✆ Tel: 0845 600 0650 Textphone: 0800 692 0792 www.southwesttrains.co.uk Virgin Trains Journey Care – if you are mobility impaired or have special needs ✆✆ Tel: 08457 443366 Textphone - Text phone users please call: 08457 443367, lines are open 08:00 - 22:00 every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day www.virgintrains.co.uk Air Two regional airports provide regular scheduled domestic and international flights into the area: Bournemouth International Airport ✆✆ Tel: 01202 364000 www.bournemouthairport.com Southampton International Airport ✆✆ Tel: 0844 481 7777 www.southamptonairport.com Updated May 2010 5 Travel around East Dorset Buses For general bus information contact Traveline on ✆✆ 0871 200 2233 Minicom Line: 0870 241 2216 www.travelinesw.com Wilts and Dorset Bus Company Wilts & Dorset Bus Company operate modern low-floor easy access buses on the majority of their routes in the area. The buses have space for one wheelchair. They also have built-in ramps to enable wheelchair access directly onto the bus. Assistance dogs are accepted on all routes and are carried free of charge. Many bus shelters now have information displays to countdown to the time of the next bus. A wheelchair symbol is also shown on this display if it is a fully accessible vehicle. www.wdbus.co.uk Other Bus Companies operating in and around East Dorset: Damory Buses ✆✆ Tel: 01258 452545 Shamrock ✆✆ Tel: 01202 621581 Nordcat ✆✆ Tel: 0845 602 4547 Yellow Buses ✆✆ Tel: 01202 636060 First (re Jurassic Coastlinx Bus, X53 Service) ✆✆ Tel: 0870 010 6022 6 East Dorset Accessibility Guide Taxis - There are currently three fully accessible vehicles available for hire in East Dorset. As they are very popular, they must be pre-booked. They are all licensed to: Minster Cars ✆✆ Tel: 01202 888888 or 888810 The vehicles have ramps for wheelchairs, a side step, revolving back seat and hearing loop system. The vehicles take up to 5 passengers or one wheelchair and 1 or 2 passengers. Care Car Dorset - www.carecars.co.uk Private hire company supplying travel needs for all disabled people and those unable to drive. Specially converted vehicles. East Dorset District Council registered. Pre-book only. ✆✆ Tel: 01202 895257 Mobile: 07796 990936 Vision Wimborne: Dial a Ride Service Vision Wimborne is a charity aiming to improve life for people living in Wimborne Minster and surrounding areas. This is a dial-a-ride service for people with severe mobility problems and offers door to door transport from home to destination and return. • Two Citroen Berlingos and one Fiat Multipla are specially converted to take a wheelchair passenger in safety and comfort. • Two of the cars are also fitted with a swivel front passenger seat to help those people who have difficulty bending or stooping. • Each vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all passengers. • The wheelchair is securely fixed to the vehicle. • The cars also have a special automatic fire protection system installed. • Dial a Ride provide specially selected and trained volunteer drivers. The drivers receive training in disability awareness, Passengers can go wherever they want. This could be a quick trip to the surgery or shops, or a longer trip to the train station. Donations will be requested based on the mileage and will be agreed on booking. The pick up area was originally restricted to a five mile radius of Wimborne. This has now been extended to cover St. Leonards and West Moors. Please phone if in doubt. ✆✆ To find out more call 01202 880699. Booking desk 9.30am -12.30pm, Monday – Friday. Messages left after 12.30pm cannot be answered until the next working day. Updated May 2010 7 “Wheels for Freedom” “Wheels for Freedom” is a charity dedicated to giving freedom of movement to those with a walking difficulty. It operates in 6 towns in Dorset. Head Office is at: Poole Town Centre, Level B, Multi-storey Car Park, Kingland Road Service Road, Poole, BH15 1TA Equipment needs to be booked in advance by email or by phoning: ✆✆ Tel: 01202 661770 10am - 3.45pm, Monday to Saturday Email: [email protected] Website: www.pooleshopmobility.org.uk In East Dorset, manual wheelchairs, electric scooters, and powerchairs are available from two town centres: Allenview Car Park, Allenview Road, Wimborne on Fridays from 9am-3pm Penny’s Lodge Car Park, Ferndown on Thursdays from 9am-3pm Daily cost Manual wheelchair £3.00 £5.00 refundable of hiring All powered vehicles £6.00 deposit required. Annual membership of “Wheels for Freedom” is £20.00 This gives members unlimited use of equipment at only £1.00 a time at all six town centres where “Wheels For Freedom” operates. Poole ....................................Monday to Saturday ............9.45am – 3.45pm Wimborne ............................Fridays only .........................9am - 3pm Ferndown .............................Thursdays only ....................9am - 3pm Christchurch .........................Mondays only ......................9.45am – 3.45pm Weymouth (Winter) ............Tuesdays only ......................9.45am – 3.45pm Weymouth (Apr-Sept) .........Tuesdays and Fridays ............9.45am – 3.45pm Dorchester ...........................Wednesdays only ..................9.45am – 3.45pm No scooters will be issued after 3pm. 8 East Dorset Accessibility Guide Figure indicates number of disabled parking spaces Updated May 2010 9 Car Parking in East Dorset Blue badge holders may park in designated bays where available, as shown below. The badge must be displayed at all times. Blue badge holders must pay unless vehicle is exempt from road fund licence duty. WIMBORNE CAR PARKS Disabled Spaces Total Spaces Allenview South 4 spaces 94 spaces Allenview North 0 spaces 63 spaces Allenview North Coach/Bus Park 0 spaces 7 (+4 taxi) Allenview West 3 spaces 140 spaces King Street 4 spaces 103 spaces Hanham Road 1 space 28 spaces Park Lane 2 spaces 13 spaces Poole Road 3 spaces 58 spaces Westfield Close 2 spaces 160 spaces Pye Corner 0 spaces 6 spaces Leigh Road 1 space 63 spaces Old Road 0 spaces 43 spaces Walford Mill 2 spaces 48 spaces Deans Court Lane Traders Park 0 spaces 33 spaces Brook Road 0 spaces 14 spaces Supermarket (Somerfield) 4 spaces 77 spaces Rowlands Hill 13 spaces 215 spaces Crown Mead 4 spaces 70 spaces VERWOOD CAR PARKS Disabled Spaces Total Spaces Ebblake, Blackmoor Road 0 spaces 46 spaces Jenner Close 0 spaces 33 spaces Potters Wheel, Manor Way 7 spaces 103 spaces OTHER CAR PARKS Disabled Spaces Total Spaces Towers Way, Corfe Mullen 2 spaces 24 spaces Water Street, Cranborne 2 spaces 14 spaces Penny’s Lodge, Ferndown 3 spaces 72 spaces Station Road, Park Way, West Moors 0 spaces 52 spaces 10 East Dorset Accessibility Guide Accommodation National Accessible Scheme (see p42 for details) The National Accessible Scheme aims to identify those accommodation establishments that provide facilities and/or services for visitors with special needs. The properties are graded using a series of awards, further information on these can be found in the appendix on pages 48 and 49. At present, Ellwood Cottages, Hartgrove Farm and Houghton Lodge – see pages 17 & 18 for details, are the only accommodation providers in the Rural Dorset area to have been inspected and graded under the National Accessible Scheme. It is hoped that in the future, more accommodation providers in the area will take part in this scheme. Therefore with the exception of these properties, the accommodation listed on the following pages has not been inspected under the National Accessible Scheme, but the owners have indicated that they have adapted or suitable accommodation for those with special needs. We strongly recommend that you check individual requirements with the establishment before booking.