Hatherley Park

*Social distancing guidelines were stringently followed during this audit*

Accessibility Rating

Physical

Four out of five

Location: Hatherley Park
Bournside Road
Cheltenham
GL51 3AL

Parking and entrance

The park is around 3 hectares in size and is surrounded by houses, making it quite hidden and a lovely surprise when entering. There is roadside parking near Hatherley Park, there aren’t any accessible bays however parking is free. The street parking is available on Hatherley Court Road, which is the northern entrance and also on Bournside Road for the southern entrance.

There are 2 discreet entrances to Hatherley Park, noticeable by the green railings. These are step free, wide and easily accessible, leaving plenty of room for a wheelchair user to pass by people safely. The pathways are also of good quality.

Access around Hatherley Park

Hatherley Park has got good access with good quality pathways. It can be hilly in places but not for a long amount of time and there are plenty of rest spots.

A main feature of the park is the lake which has benches around it and is very picturesque. This is a great place to relax and watch the wildlife. The signage near the lake is quite small and would be difficult to read for someone with a visual impairment. There is also a small pond with a seating area nearby. There isn’t much space next to the benches for a wheelchair user to sit without obstructing pathways however there is plenty of space in front of the benches.

There is a small food and drink trailer called the Butterfly Box which is open every day. This has a very high counter and may be difficult for a wheelchair user to communicate with the staff comfortably.  There are 2 picnic benches near the café. There are no toilets within Hatherley Park.

There are 2 play areas in the park, one is gated for younger children and there is another one nearby for older children. There isn’t any accessible equipment here.

Montpellier Gardens

*Social distancing guidelines were stringently followed during this audit*

Accessibility Rating

Physical

Four and a half out of five

Location: Montpellier Gardens
Montpellier Spa Road
Cheltenham
GL50 1UL

Parking and entrance 

There isn’t a car park for Montpellier Gardens, however there is roadside parking all around it. There are no accessible bays on the immediate roads next to the Gardens, however there are accessible bays outside The Ivy nearby.

There is step free access all around the gardens.

Access around Montpellier Gardens

Access around Montpellier Gardens is generally very good. The pathways are wide, in good condition and can be easily distinguished from the grass. There are benches all around the Gardens with space on either side so a wheelchair user can sit next to somebody on the bench.

There are multiple tennis courts in the gardens. These have stepped entry from the front but there is step free entry via a double gate on the side. This gate was locked during our visit.

Near here is a children’s play area, there is no accessible play equipment here.

In front of the tennis courts is the Gardens Gallery. This also has stepped entry from the front however there is a useful map on the right-hand side of the building that guides wheelchair users to the accessible entrance and alarm bell to request assistance. This is at the back of the building which can be accessed by a ramp on the right, this is a short distance away.

Near here is the gardens café. This has a slight step for entry. It may be possible for a wheelchair user to enter the gardens as the step is slightly lowered, however the step at the exit would be too high. Due to COVID-19 there is currently a one-way system in place meaning it wouldn’t be possible for a wheelchair user to use the café safely.

Accessible Toilet

Step free access to the accessible toilet requires leaving the gardens for a moment and entering back in through a different entrance. There is a large accessible toilet that requires a RADAR key for entry. This toilet has turning space and plenty of room for a wheelchair user and assistant.

The toilet is in the middle of the wall, meaning there is a large transfer space on either side and the sink would not be reachable from a seated position on the toilet. This means the sink cannot be reached from the toilet. There or two drop down rails on either side of the toilet and handrails fixed on the wall at the back of the toilet. The toilet is at the correct height from the ground at 48cm, allowing for easy transfer for a wheelchair user.

All the amenities are at a lowered height and there is a sanitary bin next to the toilet, however there is no mirror.

Imperial Gardens

*Social distancing guidelines were stringently followed during this audit*

Accessibility Rating

Physical

Three and a half out of five

Location: Imperial Gardens
Imperial Square
Cheltenham
GL50 1

Parking and entrance

There is roadside parking all around Imperial Square and there are 2 accessible bays. The accessible bays are smaller than the recommended size and the closest dropped kerb is on the corner.

Access around Imperial Gardens

The Gardens are kept in pristine condition and are full of beautiful flowers, it’s an ideal place for a picnic on a summers day.

Overall access around Imperial Gardens is very good. The pathways are clear and smooth and wide enough for people to pass each other at a safe distance. There are times when a wheelchair user will need to take a less direct route in order to avoid steps or the grass, however there is nowhere that is inaccessible for a wheelchair user. The grass is smooth meaning it would not be too difficult for a wheelchair user to wheel onto the grassed areas.

There are benches located all around the outskirts of the gardens. Some of these have plants on either side meaning a wheelchair user will be unable to sit next to somebody on a bench.

The information boards and signage around the gardens are in a small font and may be difficult for somebody with a visual impairment to read.

Garden Bar

The garden bar has a hand sanitising unit at the entrance and a ramp leading up to the bar. There is no lowered bar area.

The original garden bar seating area has steps to gain access from the bar so would be inaccessible for a wheelchair. There is also a marquee next to the bar with a seating area inside, this has step free access.

Accessible toilet

There is an accessible toilet at the end of the building behind the bar. There is step free access to this by following the path around the marquee. There is also stepped access from the far end of the bar. This requires a RADAR key for entry.

There is no handle on the front of the door which means it would be difficult for somebody with limited dexterity or a wheelchair user to open. The toilet measures 1330mm x 1660mm, this is below the standard and is quite small. It would be quite difficult for a wheelchair user and a carer fit in here.

There is a small transfer space on the right of the toilet and all the amenities are lowered apart from the coat hook. There are well placed grabrails and a drop-down rail. There is no emergency pull cord in the toilet.

Pittville Park

*Social distancing guidelines were stringently followed during this audit*

Accessibility Rating 

Physical 

Four out of five

Location: Pittville Park
Evesham Road
Cheltenham
GL52 2AP

Parking and entrance

There is roadside parking all around Pittville Park that is free for blue badge holders. There is also a car park at Pittville Pump Rooms with 150 spaces and 6 accessible bays. There are step free entrances all around the park. You can gain access directly from the street in some areas.

Access around Pittville Park

The pathways around the park are mainly concrete and in good condition, they are easy to distinguish from the grass and are a good width for people to pass each other at a safe distance. The east side pathway is the only pathway that isn’t of great quality, it is very uneven and uncomfortable for a wheelchair user. There are low hanging trees on the east side of the park that may cause an obstruction or difficulty for the visually impaired.

The grass is relatively even throughout Pittville, meaning a wheelchair user or person with limited mobility will be able to venture onto the grass without much struggle. There are also plenty of benches around meaning nobody needs to travel very far to reach a rest point. The park is also full of trees which provide plenty of shade and there are bins all over the park.

There is a large duck pond in the centre of the park which makes for beautiful scenery. Around this pond there is a pathway, the pathway doesn’t go the full way around the pond and there are steps at on section of it.

There is a small kiosk serving ice creams and snacks at the east end of the park. This has a ramp leading up to it for wheelchair users. There are also round picnic benches here with part of the seating removed, this means a wheelchair user can also sit comfortably at the bench.

There is a very large play area at Pittville which is great for children. We did not enter the play area during our visit as it was very busy and would have been difficult to maintain social distancing. There is a level roundabout in the play area which is great for wheelchair users.

General access around the entire of Pittville Park is seamless and enjoyable.

Accessible toilet

There is an accessible toilet near the play area that is free to use and does not require a RADAR key. The doorway is a suitable width and there is a large lock and handle on the door making it easier for people with limited dexterity. There is also a grab rail on the door for ease of opening and closing. The toilet is a good size with plenty of turning space and all the amenities are at a lowered height. The toilet seat and grab rails are a contrasting colour to the walls to aid the visually impaired.

The lighting in the toilet is quite dim and there is no emergency pull cord. The floor is non slip and there is a baby change unit on the left.

Changing Places toilet

Near the play area there is a large Changing Places toilet which requires a RADAR key for entry. This toilet was very clean during our visit. The lighting is quite dim and may be difficult for someone with a visual impairment to adjust to when entering from outside. The Changing Places toilet comprises of an electric hoist, toilet, shower with large controls, grab rails in a contrasting colour to the walls, mobile room divider and height adjustable fold up bench.

There is also an emergency pull cord near the bench and toilet however there are no ring pulls on the one near the bench. There are 2 coat hangers near the door and different heights making them suitable for a wide range of people.