This Access Statement Does Not Contain Personal Opinions As to Our Suitability for Those
This access statement does not contain personal opinions as to our suitability for those with access needs, but aims to accurately describe the facilities and services that we offer all our guests/visitors.
Access Statement for Garden and Cheshunt Cottages
Introduction
The Garden and Cheshunt cottages are located within the grounds of Westminster College, situated at the back of the College and on a hill but with a gradual approach by steps and only a 5 minute walk away from the city centre of Cambridge. Self-contained and fully furnished one-bedroom cottages, they perfectly accommodate a couple and are available for short or longer stays.
With the need for accommodation expanding, they were historically refurbished and transformed from stable blocks to form accommodation and have recently been further refurbished and modernised to a high standard. Both cottages are on one level and are step free internall.
We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 01223 330633 or email .
Pre-Arrival
· Westminster College is about a 10-minute walk through the city from Drummer Street Bus Station and the closest bust stop is on Bridge street about 5-minutes walk away. There is a shelter with seating. All buses can accommodate one wheelchair. Bus times can vary, for further details see Cambridge County Council website on www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
· Direct access from the railway station is difficult. It is about a 2.5-mile walk through the City centre. Taxis are always available at the station. Buses will take you to the City centre.
· Taxis will be happy to collect you from Westminster College.
· The path to access the Cottages is mainly shingles and would not be adequate for wheelchair users.
· The main road outside the cottage has a narrow path on each side, uneven in places.
· A local company supplies equipment for hire, the nearest Shopmobility is 1.5 miles away, in The Guildhall, Cambridge CB2 3QJ and contact number is 01223 457452.
· Our brochure with our tariffs and this Access Statement are available in larger print on request.
Key Collection, Welcome and Car Parking
· The Key can be collected from our College Office. Reception is open 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm; the key can be collected from 2pm on the day of arrival. The College Office is only a short walk from the Cottages. The main front entrance to the College is accessible by ramp.
· Parking is available in the front or side of the college. On street parking -'Pay and Display'- is also available at the back of the Cottages on Pound Hill. You are welcomed to use the loading bay to unload your car for a short period of time.
· The parking area is mainly covered by shingles but there are two Blue Badge car park spaces on the right hand side of the College (facing the side entrance).
· There are two lights by steps of the Main Entrance but the path to the Cottages is well lit at night by motion sensor lights.
Entrance to Property
· There are five steps to get to the front door, there is a handrail available
· The front door is 83cm/32.6ins wide.
· There is one step to the front door, there is no handrail available.
· The entrance is well lit by motion sensor light.
· The floor covering inside the entrance is short pile carpet.
Halls, Stairs, Landings, Passageways
· The hall way is well lit by a ceiling light.
· Passageways are 115cm/45.3ins wide.
· The floor covering is short pile carpet.
Sitting Room/Lounge
· The sitting room/lounge is located on the ground floor with level entry from the hallway.
· The door opening to the lounge is 76cm/29.9ins wide.
· There is a sofa, an easy chair with arms and a low coffee table.
· Furniture can be moved on request.
· There is a 19ins wide-screen digital television with remote control which is subtitle enabled.
· Lighting is natural daylight and by night levels are controlled with overhead lighting and a reading lamp is also available.
· The floor is short pile fitted carpet.
· There is a phone for making emergency outgoing calls.
Dining Room
· The dining room is part of the sitting room / lounge, the space is tight and would not be suitable for a wheelchair user.
· The dining table (movable side to side) has legs on each corner, 61cm/24ins from floor to lowest point of table (under space) and is 73.5cm/28.9ins high.
· There are two chairs (both movable) - not padded and without arms.
· The lighting is overhead and well lit.
· The floor is short pile fitted carpet.
Kitchen
· The kitchen is part of the sitting room/dining room.
· The door of the oven drops down and the handle is 50cm/19.7ins above the floor, there is a separate grill and the door drops down as well and the handle is 75cm/29.5ins above the floor. The hob is 91.5cm/36ins above the floor.
· Worktop and sink are 91.5cm/36ins above the floor.
· Under-counter fridge available, highest shelf in fridge 50cm/19.7ins.
· Glasses and crockery can be moved from all cupboards to lower cupboards, if required, please request this when booking.
· There is no table and chair in the kitchen.
· The kitchen is evenly lit with overhead light and wall light above work surface.
· Flooring is covered by linoleum.
Bedrooms and Sleeping Areas
· There is one bedroom with a double bed, on the ground floor with step free level access from the hallway.
· The door to the bedroom is 75cm/29.5ins wide.
· Furniture can be rearranged on request.
· The height for the bed is 60cm/23.6ins.
· Lighting is natural daylight, at night overhead lighting and bedside lamps are also available.
· The floor is short pile fitted carpet.
· The duvet and pillows are non-feather bedding.
· There is an alarm clock available.
Bathrooms, Shower-rooms and Toilets
· Step free, level access.
· Door opening 76m/29.9ins wide.
· Toilet 43cm/16.9ins high.
· Wash basin 91cm/35.8ins high.
· There is a step to access bath/shower.
· Lever taps on the washbasin and bath.
· The bath is 53cm/20.9ins high.
· Well lit with overhead lights and a fluorescent light over mirror.
· Non-slip laminate flooring and a rubber mat is also provided to use in the bath/shower.
· The door opening to the shared bathroom upstairs is 750mm/29.5ins wide. It has the same lighting, lever taps and flooring as above.
Laundry Room
· On the ground floor there is a laundry room containing 2 washing machines, 2 tumble driers, irons and an ironing table fixed to the wall.
· The door is 32 inches / 81 cm wide.
· The ironing table has a height of 36 inches / 91 ½ cm.
· The coin operated tumble driers and washing machines are front loading, with the lowest point in the door being 14 inches / 35 ½ cm and the highest being 31 inches / 79 cm from the ground.
· The coin slot and control panel is at a height of 41 inches / 104 cm.
· The flooring is non slip vinyl.
· There is natural light during the day and the room is well lit with over-head lighting.
College grounds
· There are gardens to the front and the rear of the College.
· The front gardens are accessed from the car park (gravel and concrete). The lawn is raised and can either be accessed up 3 steps or via a ramp up to the top and then down 2 steps. There is a paved area running through the middle of the 2 lawns and there are 2 benches on the paved section.
· The back gardens are accessed through an external door in the lodge. The lodge is along the main hallway (carpet tiles), past the Dining Hall then along corridor (varnished wooden floorboards and rugs).
· The external door leads onto a patio area via 1 step.
· The patio area then leads onto a gravel area down 2 steps round to the grassed area which contains the labyrinth.
· There is currently no seating on the back lawn.
· All our footpaths around the gardens are graveled varying in width and the narrowest point is 105cm/41.3ins.
Fire Assembly Points
· There are two fire assembly points.
o The main fire assembly point is inside the main gates, facing the mini roundabout, to the right hand side as you exit the building. It is accessible by steps or a ramp.
o The second fire assembly point is outside the back gates on Pound Hill. It is accessible by steps only. This one is the closest for the Cottages.
Additional Information
· The nearest A&E unit is at Addenbrookes, only 2 miles away and the nearest Doctor surgery is only 1 mile away.
· Further information is available in our Guests Directory.
Future Plans
· Our website is still very recent and your comments are always welcome.
Contact Information
Address (Inc postcode): / Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0AATelephone: / 01223 330633
Email: /
Website: / www.westminster.cam.ac.uk
Grid Reference: / Grid Reference TL 44412 59022
Hours Of Operation: / Open year round except for two weeks yearly closure over Christmas and the New Year
Local Carers: / Cares support Team on 01223 712055
Local Equipment Hire: / Shopmobility at The Guildhall on 01223 457452
Local Accessible Taxi: / CamCab Taxis on 01223 704704
Local Public Transport: / Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Passenger Transport on 01223 717 740
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