Accessibility Statement

Pre Arrival

• We can offer the use of a Deaf Guard system for guests who are hard of hearing and unlikely to hear the fire alarm system. This is placed under your pillow at might and will vibrate and lights flash should the fire alarms go off. Please let us know before arrival if you wish to borrow the Deaf Guard (free of charge).
• A telescopic ramp can be provided – please book in advance. It is a 7 foot twin ramp, overall width 260mm (each), use-able width (internal each) 200mm, load maximum 230 kgs with a 65mm edge. They are made of strong aluminium with a black non slip covering suitable for heavy wheelchairs and scooters. It is your responsibility to ensure that the ramp is suitable for your purposes before use. (Free of charge)
• We can also provide a plastic bathing stool for use in the wet room shower. Again, please let us know before arrival. (Free of charge).
• Hire of additional mobility equipment can be arranged through Moorland Mobility (who will also deliver and collect). Please call Malcolm on 01538 381515 (closed Sundays) or visit moorlandmobility. Alternatively the local Red Cross also have some equipment for loan free of charge.
• In Leek there are accessible toilets (on RADAR key schemes) in Silk Street, Leek Bus Station and in the council offices at Moorlands House off Stockwell Street
• There is a Shop Mobility Scheme at The Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley, Stoke on Trent and also in Macclesfield
• The nearest shops are in Leek (c 7 miles) but Tesco.com and other supermarkets will deliver
• The nearest train station is Stoke on Trent (London Euston 1 hour 35 minutes)
• There are usually accessible taxis at the station
• Alternatively travel to Macclesfield Station and catch the bus from Macclesfield to Ashbourne which stops in Waterhouses (c 2 miles)
• Arrival and Car Parking Facilities
• To ensure that your accommodation is ready we ask that guests do not arrive before 4pm. earlier arrival may be possible by prior arrangement
• There is plenty of free parking outside Merrymeet on the stone and tarmac driveway which slopes gently
• Cars can be parked immediately outside the second front door, with plenty of room for access to the vehicle
• There is outside lighting as night which lights up on sensitivity of movement
• There is access to Merrymeet via a door in the living room with no steps. (just the weather lip). A car can drive through the wooden gates right up to this door.
• The second front door has two steps (18cm & 24cm)
• Other doors into the property have steps up to them.
• Main Entrance and Reception

• There are several entrances to Merrymeet.
• The front door has no steps (only a weather board c 1 cm high) and can be parked directly outside. This is also one of three doors onto the stone patio.
• The second entrance is reached via two steps (step heights = 18 cm, and 24cm)
• The downstairs hall floor is of textured stone flags – bedrooms and bathrooms off this hallway have a slight lip to them
• There is a door to the rear garden with weatherboard lip of  2cm; beyond this door is a stone patio.

Public Areas

• There are no lifts
• There are no public phones, but mobile reception is available on all networks (although sometimes you have to move around the property to optimise reception)
• Lighting varies by room. Most rooms have central pendants. The kitchen is lit by spotlights.
• All exit routes, including staircases and hallways, have emergency lighting which will come on in the event of a power failure
• The staircase is wooden and has handrails. The staircase is 72cm width with turns.
• There are two steps down to the living room.
• There are three ground floor toilets.
• Both hallways are painted white
• A baby bath and child steps to reach sinks are provided

Dining Room

• The dining room has four doors into it – via the hallway (width 83cm), the kitchen (width 70cm) and living room (width 70cm) and to the outside (86cm wide)
• The floor is textured stone. The height of the under space of the dining table is 70cm from the floor and the table is 75cm high.
• The table is 51 inches x 94 inches
• Chairs (all moveable) there are 16 chairs with padded seats and no arms. The chairs are 43cm high
• A Hifi and CD player are provided

Lounge

• This is accessed via the dining room (door 70cm wide) with two steps down both 22cm high and the step width is 59cm; or directly from outside (two doors with weather lips only and patio doors (105cm wide with 2 steps down to outside (18cm and 24cm respectively).
• Outside the living room is a stone patio area.
• Flooring is of textured stone tiles and rugs.
• Sofas and easy chairs are provided seating up to 20 guests
• Teletext TV is provided with remote control as well as DVD player

Laundry

• A domestic washer and tumbler dryer are provided in the kitchen. The dryer sits above the washer. The door handle for this is 140cm high.
• They are both front loading
• An iron and ironing board is provided

Bedrooms

• There are seven bedrooms at Merrymeet.
• Ground Floor – 1 double, 3 twins,
• First Floor – 1 double, 1 twin, 1 family (4 single beds)
• All bedrooms are carpeted
• Non feather duvets and pillows are provided in each room
• Extra blankets and pillows are available
• There is a hanging space or wardrobe, chests of drawers and mirrors in every bedroom
• White bed linen and towels are provided free of charge

Ground Floor

• Rear Twin – door width 70cm. Two 90cm single beds with a height from the floor to top of mattress of 60cm . Largest transfer space to the side of bed is 2m. There is a wet room ensuite to this bedroom (door width 85cm)
• Front Twin – door width 70cm. Two 90cm single beds, with a height from the floor to top of mattress of 60cm. Largest transfer space to the side of bed is 1.40cm. There is a door to the outside from this bedroom – door width 85cm
• Double – door width 70cm. The double bed height from floor to top of mattress is 60cm. Largest transfer space to left hand side of bed is 1m90cm. Largest transfer space side of bed is 50cm.
• End Twin – One door leading into this room (from main hallway –70cm width)… There are two 90cm single beds, with a height to top of mattress of 60cm. The largest transfer space to the side of a bed is 1m5cm

First Floor

• The fire brigade suggest that anyone with a hearing or visual impairment doesn’t sleep in higher bedrooms to ensure speed of escape if necessary.
• Red Twin – door width 70cm. Two single beds; height from floor to top of mattress 60cm. Largest transfer space to the side of bed is 2m. There is a door to the outside (width 75cm) with 4 steps outside down to rear of Merrymeet (each c 20cm deep).
• Red Double – door width 70cm. One double bed; height from floor to top of mattress is 60cm. Largest transfer space to side of bed is 1m50cm (to half way up bed)
• A door off hallway leads to a Family Room – door width 85cm. There are four 90cm single beds; the height to the top of mattress is 60cm. The largest transfer space to the side of a bed is 3m.

Bathrooms

• There are 3 bathrooms on the ground floor and 2 bathrooms on the first floor
• The first floor bathrooms both have showers over baths, toilets and WC. One is ensuite to both the family quad bedroom (door width of 70cm). The bath in this room has a height of 54cm. The basin is 84cm high. The floor is a non slip surface. There is good colour contrast between walls, and floor.
• The second bathroom is shared by the other two first floor bedrooms (door width 70cm). It has a bath 55 cm high and a basin 83cm high. There is good colour contrast between fittings and floor. The floor has a non slip surface.
• There are three bathrooms on the ground floor
• The first bathroom is ensuite to the twin bedroom. This is a wet room with no raised shower tray. The shower has two slider rails at different heights and a plastic shower stool can be provided (please book before arrival). The free space under the shower is 1.96m x 1.9m (Total room measurements are 3.56m x 1.87m). The basin is 82cm high and toilet (42cm high) and tiled flooring. There is colour contrast between walls, and floor. Door width 70cm.
• The second bathroom is with basin (80cm high), toilet (46cm high) and bath (53cm high). There is a curved corner shower cubicle (access width 43cm and step up 25cm). The floor is tiled and there is good colour contrast between fittings and floor.
• A third shower room (door width 72cm) with basin (80cm high), and toilet. The floor is tiled and there is good colour contrast between walls, fittings and floor.

Kitchen

• The kitchen has two entrance doors from the dining room (70cm wide) and outside (80cm wide). There are two steps down to the outside (20cm and 23cm respectively) to a stone floor.
• The floor is quarry tiles. There is a good colour contrast between walls, floors, and other surfaces
• The fitted units have black granite work surfaces (worktop height is 91cm)
• There is plenty of china, cutlery and glassware for all guests
• A fridge/freezer is provided which can be used to store medication (highest shelf in fridge is 1m45cm and the lowest drawer in freezer is 40cm)
• The kitchen contains a washer, tumble dryer, two double ovens and hobs, and a microwave and 6 slot Dualitt toaster. There are two electric kettles.

Shop

• There is no shop available on site
• The nearest shopping centre is Leek, with four supermarkets, Boots, WH Smith and most other requirements catered for.
• There is a limited mobility scheme – see Pre Arrival section
• Leisure Facilities
• There is a games room with table tennis.
• The games room is accessed from a large outside door (with no steps up to it) or via the a short stair case of 5 steps 70cm wide through a door (70 cm wide) from the first floor hallway.
• Outdoor Facilities
• There is a large stone patio outside which can be accessed without using steps
• There are three acres of sloping fields
• Chairs, BBQ and tables are available
• Additional Information
• The house has fire alarms throughout
• There emergency lighting on all exit routes and stairwells
• There are fire extinguishers on all landing and in kitchens
• There is strictly a no smoking, no fireworks, no night sky lanterns and no candle policy. You may smoke in the garden. Three are sand pots provided for used cigarette ends
• There are comprehensive information folders provided in the property
• Mobile phone reception is ok
• Please note that the layout may be subject to change