The Captains Room

Access Statement

Southcliff Apartments - Access Statement (March 2019)

GENERAL
Southcliff Apartments are housed in a large Victorian residence on a pedestrian walkway overlooking the sea in Cullercoats, North Tyneside.

The CAPTAIN’S ROOM

This studio room is on the first floor – up one flight of stairs. There is no lift. The stairs are regular size and there is one solid handrail.
 

Pre-Arrival

Newcastle Central Station is about 12 miles away, 20 mins by car or 25 mins by direct by Metro. If you require information in large print please let me know. Allergies: the  Captains Room and apartments in this apartment building are non-smoking. The ground floor apartment is Pet Friendly and there is a shared hallway.

Arrival and Parking

Check-in is from 2.30pm  but we are happy to be flexible; simply arrange this with us beforehand. We would be delighted to give you any assistance you need on arrival if we are around, again just let us know beforehand. We live locally so can be on hand should you require any assistance during your stay.

As the apartment building is on a pedestrian walkway there is no parking to the front, but there is parking to the side on Windsor Crescent which is only about 10 meters to the apartments, (however there is a low wall at the bend of the road so make sure you park where this ends.)

The immediate Area

There are some lovely easy walks right outside your front door. In fact you can just stand or sit outside the garden gate, watching the changing horizon and the boats passing by. There several beachfront restaurants just a couple of minutes walk away, as well as a Bills fish and chip shop (directly across is a bench overlooking the sea where you can eat them in traditional outdoor style!) There is also a seat in the garden to the front.

The Metro System (Cullercoats Metro) is just 5 mins walk away and is wheelchair accessible and disabled friendly providing easy, fast and direct access to Newcastle City Centre you come out actually inside Eldon Square shopping Mall . There is a shop on Whitley Road (5 mins away) that hires out mobility scooters, walking frames and other aids and they are happy to deliver to and collect from the apartments. Please let me know if you would like their details.

Main Entrance

There is a Beamish cobble path to the front entrance and porch. However, the front door is not straight in front of you, it is to the side of the porch and there is a step, but unfortunately it has not been possible to install a ramp. ‘There is a step up to the front porch which would benefit from a ramp but the proximity of the garden and window may interfere with the installation...’ (Gateshead Access Panel 2005). You can get in with a wheelchair, so long as you have some-one with you to assist.  One of the apartments in the building is pet friendly – please be aware if you have allergies.

Internal rooms

There is space to store a wheelchair or walking frame in the porch.  The emergency exit is through the front door. Some lighting is energy efficient, so may take a couple of seconds to reach full brightness but we are busy moving to all LED.   

There are two single beds in the Captain’s Room.  Bedding is cotton and the pillows and duvets are feather/down, (if you would prefer a non-feather duvet let me know).

Bathroom

There are no specific disabled facilities. The bathroom has a corner walk in shower, and the toilet is regular height.  

Action Plan

We plan to do the following and will amend the statement above once completed:

• When taps need replacing do so with lever handle taps
• Install easy use locks and handles
• Mark in contrast strips steps front door step and backdoor step
• Install more handrails