Ian Streets, managing director of About Access, says a narrow view of conservation requirements has caused accessibility issues at the main entrance
A project to modernise an old education building has developed into a clash between
conservation preferences and the desire to make the property accessible.
Many will be familiar with the scenario of disagreements arising when historic buildings present obstacles for people with certain impairments who just want to go in, get around and then leave.
Depending on the features of the original property and the proposed modifications, new ramps, steps, lifts and other measures to improve accessibility could be considered unsightly.
But in this particular case, some changes have already been made. The problem is that the ramp and platform installed to create wheelchair access make the appearance of the building worse and actually reduce accessibility.
The whole matter could literally be resolved with a few small steps, but the conservation officer has a different view.
The building in question dates back to the 19th century and is used for formal learning and for events such as awards ceremonies.
For people who are unable to use the flight of steps at the main entrance there is an alternative route – but it’s a bit of a trek. They have to enter via a neighbouring building, take a lift down one floor, go out again and then use a back door to get into this building. Then they take another lift to go up a floor. It’s not a great distance but nor is it exactly convenient.
For people who are unable to use the flight of steps at the main entrance there is an alternative route – but it’s a bit of a trek. They have to enter via a neighbouring building, take a lift down one floor, go out again and then use a back door to get into this building. Then they take another lift to go up a floor. It’s not a great distance but nor is it exactly convenient.
The ramp is fine in terms of gradient and the platform is wide enough – until it gets to the front doors, where it blocks off a significant area of the landing and is only level with half of the threshold.
Accessibility for people who can’t use steps is therefore restricted to just one of the double doors and the lack of space is compounded by the fact that they open outwards. By taking up such a large area of the landing, the platform also restricts access to the building for anyone using the steps.
Alternative approaches
A better approach would have been to build out the landing from the level of the door and put in new steps at the front. The platform could then connect with the new landing further away from the door and remove the congestion the current design creates. Any difference from the original design of the building need only be slight and it will enable people to get in and out – and it will be easier on the eye than the current structure.
Another option is for an external ramp to connect with a new door, which could be installed in the main frontage by replacing a window at the side of the existing entrance. There’s concern the ramp would be visible but it could actually sit behind an existing low wall and needn’t detract at all from the view of the building.
The response from the conservation officer was that these suggestions would be inappropriate and would ruin the style of the building, but they didn’t say why or how.
It’s an important building because it is in daily use, and sometimes by large groups of people, so accessibility is important. The current problem is easy to fix by modifying the main steps. It just needs the will to do it.
Conservation is the obstacle but in a case like this, there should be a judgment call because what we are left with is something that was created to improve accessibility issues but which has effectively made the building inaccessible for more people.
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