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.