accessibility statement...accessibility statement – knowsley safari 6 coach reception + kiosks...

AccessibilityStatement–KnowsleySafari 1

AccessibilityStatement

Contents

2. Welcome3. VisitingUs5. CarParking+Arrival6. CoachReception+Kiosks8. Pathways9. OasisRestaurant,CoffeeShop+IceCreamHut10. ToiletFacilities12. DiscoveryCentre13. GiftShop14. SeaLionAuditorium15. SeaLionDisplays16. BirdsofPreyCentre17. GiraffeHouse+Platform18. EquatorialTrail19.WildTrail+Toilets

22. InformationCentre23. Amusements26. SafariPartyRooms27. LargeBaboonBus28. ContactInformation


Welcome

KnowsleySafariParkwasopenedtothepublicinJuly1971bythe18thEarlofDerby.Backthen,the`safaripark'conceptofhavingvisitorsenclosed(withincars)andtheanimalsroamingfree(basedonthedrive-throughgamereservesofEastAfrica)wasunique.

Sincethen,KnowsleySafarihasbecomeoneofMerseyside’spremierleisureattractions,winningseveralawardsfortourismaswellasitsanimalhusbandry.

Whendesigninganynewexhibitsorattractionswithinthesafari,weadheretoDDAguidelines,andworkinaccordancewithcurrentbuildingregulations.

Weworkhardtoprovidethehighestlevelofaccesstothewholesite,howeverinsomeinstancesthisisnotalwayspossibleduetothehistoricnatureofourbuildingandgardens.Inthispackage,weintendtohighlightanddiscusseachoftheseoccurrencesinordertoclarifyallaccessibilityfeaturestovisitors.FurtherdetailsareavailablefromKnowsleySafari:t:+44(0)1514309009e:[email protected]


VisitingUs

Train

ThenearesttrainstationisPrescot,located1.6milesfromthepark.Wheelchairusersmayrequireassistanceusingcarparkequipmentatthisstation.

Step-freeaccessnote:-LevelaccesstotheWiganboundplatform–shortwalkto/fromcarparkOpen-stepfootbridgetoLiverpoolboundplatform,52steps

Alternatively,step-freeaccesstoLiverpoolplatformisavailablebywalkingthroughaprivatehousingestateonHaysRoadwhichtakesapproximately15minutes.

Wewouldadviseyoutoplanyourtripinadvanceinordertomakethemostofyourday,youcandothisusinganonlinerouteplannerorbyphonewithTrainTracker.Å+443457484950

Bus

ArrivaandStagecoachrunbusroutes10and10AtravellingbetweenStHelensandLiverpoolevery20minutesatpeaktime,callingatDerbySt/LiverpoolRd.

PleasecontactArriva/Stagecoachtocheckwhetheryourchosenlineisoperatedbywheelchairaccessiblevehicles.Å+443448004411

DuringpeaktimesPeoplesBusLTDofferaservicefromLiverpoolCityCentre.2016pricesincludebusfare,KnowsleySafariadmissionandVAT20%:Adults:£17.50Children:£13.50Family(2adults+2children):£55.00

Seemoreat:http://www.peoplesbus.com/timetable/safari-xpress/#sthash.QwzHWADz.dpuf

RegardingpublictransporttoKnowsleySafari–pleasebeawarethatwearesituationonabusydualcarriagewaywhichmaynotbesuitableforpubliccrossingparticularlyforthosewithdifficultywalking.WestronglysuggestashorttaxiridetoourCoachReception.


Taxi

TaxisareavailablefrombothPrescotbusandtrainstations.Accessibletaxiscanbepre-bookedviaAllBlackCabs,alocalcompanyofferingwheelchairaccessiblevehicles.FormoreinformationonAllBlackCabs,pleasecontactthemdirectlyviaphonetodiscussyourneeds.Å01514309555

LocaltaxicompanyBritannia,basedinPrescot,offerpre-bookedratestotakeguestsaroundoursafaridrive.PleasebeawarethatwheelchairaccessibletaxisaresubjecttoavailabilityandmustbearrangedinadvancewithBritannia–thesevehiclesalsodonotenterourbaboonenclosure.Pricesarecurrently:4-seater-£25.00 5-seater-£40.00

Car

Fulldetailsandmapsareavailableonourwebsite:http://www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

KnowsleySafarissituated8milesfromLiverpoolCityCentre,offtheM62,Junction6toM57,Junction2.

Alargecarparkisavailablewithinthesafariandisfreeforallguests,comprisedofamixtureoftarmacandhard-standingwithathinlayerofgravel.Furtherdetailscanbefoundwithinthisdocument.

Oursafaridiveis5mileslong,pleaseensureyouhavesufficientfueltocompletethisjourney.ThenearestpetrolstationislocatedoffthethirdexitonthePrescotBypass.Address:StHelensRd,

PrescotL346HN

Å01514310274

AssistanceDogs

Assistance/servicedogsarewelcomewithinKnowsleySafari.Whentakingatripthroughoursafaridrive,pleasebeawarethatyouwillbeunabletodrivethroughbothourlionandbaboonenclosureswithadoginthevehicle,underanycircumstances.

Onthedayofyourvisit,pleaseasknourInformationCentre/OasisRestaurantorCoachreceptionforwaterbowls.Wedoaskthatservicedogsarekeptonaloadatalltimes,andpleaserefrainfromvisitingourmoredelicateanimalssuchasbirdsofprey,batsormeerkats


CarParking+Arrival

ParkingisfreetoaskKnowsleySafariguests,withtheexceptionofspecialevents.

Thecarparkiscentraltoallmajorattractionswithinthesafari,withthefurthestparkingspacebeing200mfromourOasisRestaurant.

Therearetendisabledspaceslocatedveryclosetothemainfacilities,suchasourOasisRestaurantandcentraltoiletblock.Thesespacesarelocatedonlevel,smoothtarmacwithbaysclearlymarked.Eachofthesespacesareofferedonafirstcome,firstservebasistobluebadgeholdersonly.

Carsarerequiredtocomedownaslightslopetooccupyaspaceinthecarpark.Onceintheparkingarea,guestswillnoticethatwhilstthesurfaceisconcrete,itcanbeuneveninplaces.

Disabledparkingspots Overflowparking

Thefloorsurfaceofthecarparkisarough,loosesubstrateoftenfoundincarparkshoweverthemainpathleadingtotheentranceissmoothtarmac.

Manualwheelchairhirecanbearrangeduponarrival,orbycallinginadvanceofyourvisit.AsmalldepositmayberequiredandchairscanbecollectedfromtheOasisRestaurant.

Å01514309009


CoachReception+Kiosks

Kiosks

Ourkiosksaresetbackapproximately200mfromthepublicentrance,andcanbereachedviaaseriesofdriveuplanes.

Windowheightis100cmfromgroundlevel.

Maximumvehicleheightis290cm.

Viewofentrancekiosksfromvehicle Windowheight100cm

Pedestrianentrance,whilstunadvised,issafestonthelefthandsideofthedriveup,leadingtoCoachReception.

Onverybusydays,guestsmayberequiredtojoinaqueueoftrafficleadingtoourkiosks.Thedrivewayislargeenoughtoaccommodateapproximately200vehicles.Eachkioskhas2tillswitheasyaccessforthevehicledriverorpassengers.Largervehiclesareadvisedtosticktothelefttwolanesduetotheirimprovedheightrestrictions,whicharelargeenoughtoaccommodateadoubledeckerbus.

Thefirstsetoftoiletsarelocatedafewminutes’drivefromtheentrancekioskstotheleftor100mfromcoachreception–somewheelchairusersmayfindthegroundchallengingatthispoint.


CoachReception

Whilstourkiosksareadequatelystaffedandequippedtohopefullydealwithanyquestionsyoumathaveonarrival,ifyoudowishtospeaktothereceptionteamthiscanaccessedongroundlevelwithonestep.Atthistime,coachreceptiondoorsdonotmeetminimumrequiredDDAmeasurements.Ourcounterisnotcurrentlyatlowlevel,althoughalowercounterisviewableatthesidewindowpicturedbelowinourinformationcentre.

Coachreceptionfrontdooris80cmwide,andaccessibleviaa25cmstep.

Coachreceptionfrontdoor Coachreceptionsidewindow


Pathways

Themainpathwaysaroundthefootsafariarelargelysmoothtarmac,althoughsomeareasfeatureanti-slipwoodendeckingpathsorbridges.

Therearegreenareasaroundthefootsafari,includingthemainlawnssurroundingourOasisRestaurant,thepicnicareaoppositeourelephantpaddockandtheplantedbordersleadinguptothesafaridrive.Theseareasarealsoreachableviaalternativepathways.

Accesstomeerkatsviabridge

Theplayareainthecentreofthefootsafariismadeupofbarkchippings;thisisforthesafetyofthechildrenusingtheplayequipment.Nearbyisalargesandpitarea.

Thereisalong,windingstreamthatrunsbetweenthemeerkatandamusementareas.Thesurfaceispassablebya150+widecheckedbridgewithonlyaslightincline.

Thisbridgemayprovedifficultforthoseusingmobilityscooters.

Accesstomeerkatsviabridge


OasisRestaurant,CoffeeShop+ IceCreamHut

TheOasison-siterestaurantcanbeaccessedviawheelchairandisononelevelwithawidequeueingareaonarrival.

Themainentranceislocatedtothecentreofthebuilding,andis170cmwide-theseareproppedopenduringthemajorityoftheyearalthoughmaybeclosed(andrequirepushopening)duringthecoldermonths.Therearetwofurtherdoorstoeachsideofthebuilding– oneopeningontothesouvenirshopandtoiletblockpullingoutwardsandmeasuring166cmwide,andonetothechildren’splayareaandamusementsmeasuring132cmwide.

Oasisrestaurantfrontentrancedoors

Onceinside,ourdécorincludesalargerockfaceoneithersideofthemaindoorsthatasit’snarrowestpointis145cmwide.Therestauranthasaservingareawherethefoodispurchasedandplacedonatray.Membersofthecateringteamwilloffertocarrytraysforthosewhorequireassistance.

Oasisrestaurantrighthanddoorsbyplayarea


ToiletFacilities

LocatedwithintheOasisRestaurantaretwogeneralaccesstoiletswith80cmpushdoorswithouthandles.

InternalviewofOasisRestauranttoilets

Designatedaccessiblefacilitiesarelocatedinthemaintoiletblockoppositethedisabledparking,neartheOasisRestaurantandthegiftshop.Thereisamanualdoorwhichis92cmwide,withforwardandangledtransfertotheWC.Offeringsufficientturningspaceattheentrytothefacilityforwheelchairusers.Thereisalsoahorizontalrailontherearofthedoorforeaseofaccess.

Thefacilityiswelllitwithalevellinoleumflooring,andlevertapsonthebasin.

Wealsoofferanadulthoistandchangingfacility.Unfortunately,wedon’thavebrailleortactilesignage.

Disabledtoiletentrance Internalviewoflargerdisabledtoilet


Adultchangingfacility

Accesstothetwodisabledtoiletsisbya92cmwidedoorwithforwardtransfertotheWC–thismaybeawkwardforsomewheelchairusers,andmayrequirefurtherassistance.Thereissufficientturningspaceattheentrancetothefacilityandahorizontalrailontherearofthedoor.

TherearealsohorizontalandverticalgrabrailseithersideoftheWC.Thetoiletiswelllitwithalinoleumlevelflooring.Assistancemayberequiredbysomeusers.

Internalviewofdisabledtoilets

Generaltoilersaresituatedoppositeviapavingstones,bothentrancesarebya74cmwidedoorway.Thegentleman’stoiletshaveasmall8cmstepintothebuilding.

Accesstoladies’toilets Accesstomen’stoilets


DiscoveryCentre

Thisbuilding,locatedjustoffthedisabledparking,ishometoourLearningandDiscoverysessions.Therearetwoentrancestothefront,bothofwhichcanalsobeusedasanexit.Thedoorwaysare90cmwide,accessedbyaslightinclinewithahandrailononeside.

Thereissufficientturningspaceonceinsidethefacilityaswellasafireexit90cmwide,thatmaybeusedifrequired.

DiscoveryCentreentranceramp

WithintheDiscoveryCentrethereisanangledentrancetotheWC,whichmayposedifficultytosomewheelchairusers,howeverthereissufficientturningspaceifneeded.

Thereisahorizontalrailontherearofthedoor,aswellasbothhorizontalandverticalgrabrailseithersideoftheWC.Levelflooringthrough-outwiththeWCareafeaturinglinoleumfinish.

Maindooraccess WCinterior


GiftShop

LocatednextdoortotheOasisRestaurantandaccessedfromthecarparkviadroppedkirbs,ourspaciousandlightgiftshopcanbeaccessbypulldoors169cmwide.

Shopfrontdoorentrance

Onceinsidethegiftshop,wideislesallowforsufficientturningspaceforwheelchairusers,andthestoreincludeslowlevelcountertopsforeaseofuse.

Internalviewofshop


SeaLionAuditorium+SurroundingArea

SurroundingArea

Surroundingoursealionauditoriumaretheoutsidepoolandviewingareas.Theglassbarrierssurroundingthepoolareneartogroundlevelandprovideexcellentviewsofouranimalsswimming.

BoardwalktoviewingplatformStepstounderwaterwindow

Aviewingplatformcanbeaccessedbyawoodendeckingareawithamplespacetoturn.Whileweprovidestepswithahandrail,ourunderwaterviewingwindowisaccessibleviaashallowrampatit’snarrowestpoint,140cmwide.

Ramptounderwaterviewingwindow


SeaLionAuditorium

Accesstooursealionauditoriumisby150cmwidefiredoors,whichourstaffopenandclose.Ongroundlevelatthefrontofthestandstandseatingisaspacereservedforthosewhorequirewheelchairaccessorseatingwithbackscanprovided.

Internalviewofaccessdoor Frontaccessdisabledseatingarea

Regrettably,pushchairsandpramsarenotpermittedinthesealionauditorium.Ourstaffwithadviseguestswheretositsafely.Maximumcapacityforwheelchairaccessis26wheelchairsor13ifonetoonecarersarerequiredtositatthefrontalso.

Seatingisstrictlyfirstcomefirstserve-thosepositionedatthecentreofthestagemaybefindtheywillgetwetattheendoftheshowfromthesealionhighballjump.Assistancemayberequired.

Internalgrandstandseating


BirdsofPreyCentre

Ourindooraviariescanbeaccessedbyalargeslidedoorwayallowingplentyofmovementandturningspaceonceinside.

Entrancetoindooraviary Seatingforindoordisplays

Wewilladviseguestswheretositsafelyinthebirdofpreyarenaspendingiftheshowisinsideoroutside.Itisourstaffs’discretiononplacementwhenshowsareinprogress.

DuetotheflightpathsandarrangementofourBirdofPreydisplays,wheelchairaccessibilitymayrequireassistanceonunevenground.

WheelchairseatingonunevengroundStepstooutdoorseating,rampaccessavailable


GiraffeHouse+Platform

Accessthroughandaroundourgiraffehouseisbytarmacpathwaysfirstlyleadingtoourgiraffeviewingplatformcomprisingof13steps(170cmwide)withhandrailsonbothsideswithgrippingmaterial.

Viewofgiraffeplatform 13stepaccesstoplatform

Ourgiraffehouseentrancethorough-fareisbytwodoubledoors170cmwidewithheatprotectionflapswhichmayrequiresomeassistancetonavigate.

GiraffehouseentrancefromEquatorialtrail


EquatorialTrail

Surroundingourgiraffehouseleadingtoourequatorialtrailviewingplatformisbarkchipwalkwayswhichwheelchairusersmayfinddifficulttonavigate,butinmostcasesthegiraffehousedoorswillalloweasyaccess.

WoodchippathwaytoEquatorialTrail

Aninclineleadstoourviewingplatformoverlookingourtapir/sitatungaandMizzylake,withdeckingallowingplentyofroomforturningaround.

Inclineleadingtoviewingplatforms


WildTrail+Toilets

WildTrail

Aneweradditiontoourfootsafariisapicturesquewoodedarea,knownastheWildTrail,teemingwithnativewildlifeandourEuropeanMoose.

EntrancetoWildTrail

Accessibilityisnotsuitableforthoseinawheelchairasthegroundconditionscangetmuddyandinaccessible.Thisareacanbeparticularlydifficulttonavigateduringwetweather.

HalfwayaroundourWildTrail(allowingforgreatviewsofourEuropeanMoose)youwillcometoaseriesofsmallstepsorbridges.

WildTrail–shallowsteps WildTrail–stepsandbridge


Toilets

Oppositeourbirdofpreycentreareasetoftoiletsaccessiblebysomehardstanding/graveltoawoodenrampwithhandrailsonbothsides.Comprisingoftworegularandonedisabledtoiletblock.Doorsare80cmwidewithasmallgroundlevellip.

Woodlandpicnicandcaféarea

Unfortunately,wecurrentlydonothavebrailleortactilesignage.

Theentrydoortothefacilityis80cmwide,withangledtransfertotheWC.Thismaybeawkwardforsomewheelchairusers.

TherearealsohorizontalandverticalgrabrailseithersideoftheWC.Cubiclesarewelllitwithalinoleumlevelflooring.Assistancemayberequiredbysomeusers.

Rampaccesstotoilets Internalviewofdisabledtoilets


InformationCentre

InformationCentre

Accesstoourinformationcentreisviaagroundleveldoorway80cmwide.Thereissufficientturningspaceonceinsidethefacility.Alowered90cmcountercanbefoundinside.

Informationcentrefrontdoor


Amusements


SafariPartyRooms

Ourexcitingnewpartyroomscanhouseclassroomsessionsandbirthdayparties.Accessisbygroundleveldoorsofwhichtherearetwo76cmwidedoorsordouble150cmdoors.

InternalviewofRainforestroom InternalviewofHabitatsroom

Doubledooraccess


BigBaboonBus

Ourlarger33-seaterBaboonBushasaretractablewheelchairrampallowingeasyaccessforonewheelchairuser.Weaskfor48+hoursnoticewhenwishingtobookonourBaboonBuswithwheelchairfacilities.

Wheelchairaccessonbus

OurBaboonBuscantakebetween1and2hoursogoaroundthesafaridrive,withncurrentoptionfortoiletbreaksforleavingthevehicle.

SideviewofBaboonBus


ContactInformation

Address:KnowsleySafariPark,PrescotMerseysideL344AN

Telephone:01514309009

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

GridReference:SJ4608293489

HoursofOperation:10:00–3:30pm

accessibility statement...accessibility statement – knowsley safari 6 coach reception + kiosks...

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