Sleningford Watermill Caravan & Camping Park - Access Statement

ACCESS STATEMENT

The Park consists of 14 acres of parkland and sits alongside the River Ure, 5 miles north of Ripon and 3 miles south of Masham. We have pitches available for touring units (caravans, motorhomes, trailer tents and tents); 45 of which have access to an electric hook-up point and 60 of which do not. We also have seasonal pitches for 45 caravans, all with access to an electric hook-up point, and a small holiday flatlet.

We aim to ensure that all our visitors enjoy their stay and are made to feel welcome. Constructive feedback regarding the accessibility of our facilities and services is encouraged. The Managers of the Park have attended ‘Welcome All’ training sessions run by the Yorkshire Tourist Board.

Transport & Location

• There is a central car park adjacent to Reception.
• There are no specific parking spaces for Blue Badge holders and the car park can become very busy, particularly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but we are always willing to assist wherever possible.
• There is a bus service between Ripon and Richmond and the nearest bus stop is at West Tanfield (965m from the entrance to the Park). Further details of the 159 service can be found by contacting Dales & District on 01677 422371 or at www.dalesanddistrict.co.uk.
• The nearest railways stations are at Harrogate (16 miles), Northallerton (19 miles) and Thirsk (16 miles). There is a bus service from Harrogate to Ripon and a bus service from Northallerton to Ripon via Thirsk.
• We are willing to collect people from West Tanfield if we are given advance notice of their arrival.
• We can also provide a provisions delivery service of if we are given advance notice.
• There is a 10mph speed limit throughout the Park and there are speed bumps at regular intervals along the driveways. The driveways also serve as pedestrian ways.
• There are several Motability dealers/service centres in Ripon and we can provide details if required.
• Our ordnance survey grid reference is OS Map 90 Northallerton & Ripon 279783.
• There is lighting along the driveways in the Park, with the exception of the lower half of The Island.
• The driveway from the main road (A6108) to the car park area in front of Reception is 644m long. In total, it’s 1,690m (or 1 mile) from the bus stop in West Tanfield to the area in front of Reception.

Main Entrance & Reception Facilities

• Reception is generally open from 8.30am – 7.00pm. Although it officially closes between 10.30am-12.00pm and 1.30-4.30pm, we usually keep Reception open throughout the day during busy periods. However, if Reception is closed, new arrivals may ring the doorbell for assistance.
• The Reception also contains a small but well-stocked shop.
• There is a ramp up to the Reception door which is 67cm wide.
• The Reception counter is 76cm high and the shop counter is 94cm high.
• A noticeboard in Reception gives details about local health and emergency services.

Main Courtyard

• There is a public telephone with a 86cm wide spring door. It is a small cubicle and not wide enough for a pram or wheelchair. There are notices giving details about local health and emergency services and taxi services.
• There is a laundry room with a washing machine and tumble dryer, both of which require tokens to operate and these can be purchased from Reception. There are also two sinks for washing dishes and they are 95cm high. The door into the laundry room is 90cm wide. There is a noticeboard giving details of ‘what’s on’ in the local area, together with a library of paperback books.
• There are recycling bins for glass, newspapers and cans.
• There is an Information Room with leaflets for local attractions and noticeboards giving information about local events and services. The counter with the leaflets on is 95cm high.
• There is a Canoe Shop which is accessed via two steps 23cm high. The entrance doors can be opened to a width of 112cm.
• There is a dustbin store containing Continental 1100 bins with swing over lids.
• There is a small play area for young children on the open grass opposite the Information Room.
• There is a canoeists’ changing area on the ground floor of the Watermill which is accessed via two steps down each 31cm high and a 5cm high floor barrier.

Flatlet

• The flatlet is on the first floor of the Watermill and is accessed via six wooden steps.
• It has a small lobby leading into one room containing a kitchenette with sink, fridge and cooker, a dining table and two benches which converts into a small double bed, two single beds and a wardrobe.
• It also has a small shower room leading off the lobby with a wash hand basic, shower cubicle and toilet.

Touring Areas

• There are three touring areas on the Park: The Riverside, The Millhouse Field and The Island. The Riverside and the Millhouse Field are for units requiring electric hook-up only and The Island has both electric hook-up points and areas for units not requiring electric hook-up.
• Parking for a maximum of two cars is permitted alongside all pitches.
• All touring pitches are on grass.
• There are several water, fire and chemical disposal points throughout the Park.
• We will do our best to accommodate any requests for pitches near specific facilities (e.g. toilets, water points, etc.) if we are notified at the time of booking.

Toilet/Shower Facilities

• The toilet block in the Main Courtyard contains separate toilet/shower facilities for men and women, plus a recently refurbished unisex disabled/family shower room and a separate unisex disabled toilet. There is a ramp to the entrance of the toilet block (87cm wide) and level access into both facilities through a 75cm wide door. The shower and toilet cubicles are from 51-61cm wide and the basins are 79cm high.
• There is a toilet block on The Island with level access into the separate toilet/shower facilities for men and women through 74cm wide doors. The toilet and shower doors are between 54-59cm wide and the basins are from 79-89cm high. Outside this toilet block there are two washing up areas both with two sinks each which are 93cm high.
• All the hot water in the toilet blocks and for washing up dishes is free and does not require money/tokens.
• There is parking space available outside both toilet blocks, which is on tarmac in the main courtyard and on grass on The Island.

General

• Assistance dogs only are permitted in the Park’s buildings, with the exception of The Flatlet where no dogs are permitted.
• There are several walks around the Park which are on grass and mainly level although there are some trip hazards (including rabbit holes and exposed tree roots) which make some of them unsuitable for prams and wheelchairs. There are some benches at various points on these walks.
• This Access Statement is available in large print (16pt, Arial font).
• Above the toilet block on The Island is a Recreation Room which is accessed via a metal spiral staircase.
• The Managers live on the Park and are available to provide assistance whenever necessary.
• There are electronic gates at the entrance to the Park and they automatically close at 11.00pm and re-open at 7.00pm. They can be opened in an emergency and when they are closed there is pedestrian access.
• Access to The Island is via a road bridge and a footbridge. Although the road bridge is flat, the walk up to and down from the footbridge is sloped and has a latch gate at one end.
• Assistance with pitching is always offered on arrival.
• Mobile telephone coverage is poor on the Park.

The Park first opened as a caravan and camping facility in 1973 and the accessibility or otherwise of the facilities and services on the Park was not considered a priority at that time. In the last couple of years, several improvements have been made (e.g. the newly refurbished disabled/family shower room and separate disabled toilet) but there are still a number of ways in which accessibility could be improved.

Some of our plans for the future are:

• A sensory garden
• Additional lighting on The Island (possibly solar powered)
• A website
• A site map
• A wheelchair hire service

(Dated 11th January 2008)