The first time I came across the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) was when I was studying for my degree and have to admit that, firstly it has been a long time since I visited this attraction and secondly it was before my I was a wheelchair user.

CAT offer a visitors centre that has “Interactive displays show global issues such as energy generation and transport, and practical, everyday solutions for everyone.” It’s highly educational, fun and stimulating, not just for the children but also for adults.

CAT mainly give information and advice for wheelchair users on their access page:

“Information for wheelchair users

Access to the Visitor Centre from Easter to the end of October is via the cliff railway which has carriages that are adapted to receive wheelchairs.

When you arrive at the Visitor Centre you will see the reception area in the car park at the bottom of the cliff railway. Parking is free. There is a short low-gradient ramp to access the reception and railway. We offer free entry to the Visitor Centre for carers

During the winter months, the railway is closed and access to the Visitor Centre is via the Garden Steps. This is a stepped pathway, which takes about 10 minutes to walk, passing the eco-cabins, vegetable fields and shop. Parking is provided near the visitor circuit at the top of the South Drive for those who are unable to walk up.

As CAT is located in a rural area with steep gradients, it has not been possible to make all paths accessible. The Garden Steps and Woodland Walk leading from the lower car park to the Visitor Centre are not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

The displays are located throughout a 7-acre open-air site. Most of the pathways around site are made up of compacted aggregates which are mostly level; however wheelchair users may require assistance in using these, particularly during periods of inclement weather. All the buildings have ramped or level access with doors, entrances and corridors wide enough for a wheelchair. There are wheelchair accessible toilets at the bottom car park reception building and near the shop at the top of the cliff railway.

We have electric mobility scooters and a wheelchair, either of which can be hired free of charge by calling 01654 705993 in advance of your visit.

Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs are permitted onto the Visitor Centre.”

As I mentioned, it has been a while since I’ve been to CAT, but as I’d really like to go again, maybe I’ll see you there soon.

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Manaros purpose built luxury accommodation sleeps up to 8 people and is located in the beautiful Welsh village of Aberdaron on the Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd. The village boasts a glorious sandy beach, known as “The Land’s End of Wales” and the Llŷn Peninsula is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Seals and dolphins and all manner of bird life are plentiful.

Manaros is an accessible, single-storey, luxury accommodation purpose built for letting to groups of friends and families that wish to enjoy all the benefits of a spacious and comfortable open plan living area together with the privacy of a secluded position and 4 en suite double bedrooms.

The Manaros website gives lots of vital and useful information for disbaled people and includes a full access statement which includes relevant information such as:

Manaros was built on one level in 2008 to the highest possible access standards.

The property has been designed to comply with the Disabilities Discrimination Act and Part M of Building Regulations to enable people, regardless of disability, to have access to and use the relevant areas of the building.

-There is ample car parking with a spot reserved for the Disabled right by the front door with external lighted area to the front door.

-There is no significant step or sill on internal or external doors -with the exception of (a) an internal door into the garage/utility room. Wheel chairs can still access this from the front garage door which is wide and on the level. (b) the conservatory door onto the patio which has a 63mm sill. The patio can still be reached by wheelchair from the adjacent lounge and by a level path around the property from the front door.

-Main external doors are double doors min 1.8 metres overall. Two escape doors are 820mm wide. Entry doors into the bedrooms and a Disabled Shower room and WC are a minimum of 830mm. Bedroom One has a 860mm wide door into the en suite. Bedrooms 2, 3, and 4 doors into their en suites are .750mm wide.

-All bedrooms and have laminate floor covering and no carpets or rugs.

-Bedroom en-suites have Marley non-slip safety flooring.

-There are two shower rooms/WC which are specially equipped for wheelchair users – Bedroom 1 and the communal Disabled Shower/WC/wash room off the hall. Both are designed to Part M of the Building Regulations.

It’s great to see that individual accommodation providers are beginning to supply such information for disabled people and you can also read the full access statement on the OpenBritain website.

For further information please contact Peter or Simon on 01758 760 652 or email them at: enquiries@aberdaronbandb.co.uk

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The Swansea Festival of Music and Arts runs from the 28th Spetember – 17th October at various venues across the city. “The success of last year’s 60th birthday Festival has enabled us, in difficult economic circumstances, to build a programme of quality and diversity: concerts, opera, oratorio, chamber music, jazz and gospel, together with classical and contemporary dance, musical comedy, visual arts and lectures. We hope that people of all ages and backgrounds will share the colour and imagination which the arts bring to our lives.”

There is information for people with disabilities regarding three of the main venues; Brangwyn Hall, The Grand Theatre and the Taliesin Arts Centre.

You can also read the Swansea Festival of Music and Arts in Welsh.

“Gwŷl Gerdd a Chelfyddydau Abertawe

Mae llwyddiant Gwyl y llynedd, yn dathlu ei phenblwydd yn 60, wedi’n galluogi, mewn hinsawdd economaidd anodd, i adeiladu rhaglen o ansawdd ac amrywiaeth: cyngherddau, opera,oratorio,miwsig siambr, jas a gospel, ynghyd â dawns glasurol a chyfoes, comedi gerdd, celf weledol a darlithoedd.

Gobeithiwn y bydd pobl o bob oedran a chefndir yn rhannu’r lliw a’r dychymyg y mae’r celfyddydau’n cynnig i’n bywydau.”

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Whilst flitting through the net looking things to write about for the OpenBritain Blog I came across this article titled “The Best Autumn Food Festivals” by Nichola Iseard in the Observer’s Escape Magazine. Here at OpenBritain we love a good festival whether it be art, music, beer or food but we also need to know what facilities the festivals have for people with disabilites.

For this reason I’ve taken Nichola’s suggestions and dug a little deeper to try to find the information to The Best Inclusive Autumn Food Festivals:

Ludlow Food Festival
11-13 September

Information for people with disabilities:

ACCESSIBILITY

All events in Ludlow Castle and most other venues are suitable for wheelchair access. The entrance to the Castle itself has a rough cobbled surface and a wheelchair user may require assistance – readily available on the spot – for this short section. Some shops have entrance steps but again assistance is readily available. Detailed information can be found at the Festival Information Stall near the Castle entrance, or by phoning 01584 873957

Disabled toilets can be found at the car park off Castle Square, and in the Castle during the Food and Drink Fair. Disabled car park spaces (for disabled badge holders) can be found in the car park off Castle Square.One of the Park & Ride buses has a low floor access. Further information on this will be available from the stewards at the car park.

If you have special needs and require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 01584 873957, or email info@foodfestival.co.uk , and we will be happy to do what we can to help.

For more information about access in Ludlow generally, please contact Malcolm Marsh at South Shropshire District Council, tel 01584 813367.

Soil Association Organic Food Festival, Bristol
12-13 September

Information for people with disabilities:

When browsing through the official Organic Food Festival site there doesn’t seem to any information at all for people with disabilities and the tourist information office, Visit Bristol, simply state “Guide Dogs Permitted” and that there are  ”Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors.”

It maybe a good idea to contact the Organic Food Festival or Visit Bristol before attending the event.

Organic Food Festival:

info@theorganicfoodfestival.co.uk
Tel: 0117 314 5104
Fax: 0117 370 1099

Visit Bristol

ticharbourside@destinationbristol.co.uk
Tel: 0333 321 0101

Abergavenny Food Festival
19-20 September

Information for people with disabilities:

VENUE ACCESS

All main the main market venues are fully accessible to wheelchair-users and mobility scooters.
The Wedgewood Room at the Angel Hotel involves using some steps.
Trinity Hall is approximately seven minutes walk from the centre of town.
St Michael’s Centre is approximately twelve minutes walk from the centre of town.

CAR PARK ACCESS

Bailey Park is the most suitable for wheelchair and scooter users. All the town car-parks have allocated parking.

SHOPMOBILITY

Shopmobility will be running over the weekend from 10.00am to 4.00pm daily. To be sure of securing a scooter, please book in advance by calling Freephone 0800 298 2656

Manchester Food and Drink Festival
1-12 October

Acording to the Observer article “This event takes over more than 100 venues across the city, so it’s hard to know where to start.” Although not a good enough reason, this is presumably why there isn’t any information for people with disabilites at all on the Manchester Food and Drink Festival web site. Please contact them directly with enquiries if you’re interested in visiting any of the events:

hello@foodanddrinkfestival.com
Tel: 0161 839 3461
Fax: 0161 839 4753

Slow Food Market, London
Various dates

Information for people with disabilities:

Pleas see the Southbank Centre’s Access Pages for futher information.

Liverpool Food and Drink Festival
13-20 September

Again this festival is spread over various venues and the organisers don’t seem to have provided any information for people with disabilities. The article in the Observer suggests that “For a chance to sample dozens of them in one location, make a beeline for Sefton Park on 13 September, where there will be food sampling, cookery demonstrations and opportunities to buy.” however, there isn’t any access information for the park either.

Nottingham Food and Drink Festival
16-20 September

The Nottingham Food and Drink Festival is spread over 6 locations in the city namely; Chapel Quarter, The Lace Market, Hockley Village, Castle, Old Market Square and Theatre Square at various different venues. The organisers have not included any information for people with disabilities so it would be advisable to contact them if you are interested in going.

First Wednesday is another initiative in Nottingham that gives offers and discounts at various different bars and restaraunts on the first Wednesday of every month. There is little information regarding facilities for people with disabilities at the different venues so if you happen to live in Nottingham or will be visiting there soon and would like to review one of them for OpenBritain, please contact us!

Narberth Food Festival, Pembrokeshire
26-27 September

The main event seems to be located outside in the centre of the town and although no specific information is given regarding access or other facilities for people with disabilities at the event there is a map showing where to find the Blue Badge Parking. One would assume (although we all know it’s never a good idea to assume), that if there’s parking for people with disabilities, there will also be other facilities….

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