Erection of a timber built residential, recreational, educational and leisure facility with services for mentally and physically disabled persons and...

Design preserves natural environment; vital facility in central location

Needed base for school exchange visits with disabled students

Lack of facilities for special needs

Beneficial for disabled holidays; insufficient facilities

Worthwhile for visually impaired residents and visitors

Embarrassment no purpose-built accommodation for disabled

Island short of such facility; sympathetic to area

Shortfall in accommodation for disabled visitors/locals

Few accessible affordable options for disabled

Proper provisions needed for disabilities in 21st century

Gap in facilities for families caring for disabled

no comments

Tree loss acceptable

Ideally it would be helpful should the Planning Committee, if moved towards approval should request the involvement of the Disability Access Office in the progress of this development

Conditions requested: provision should include a ratio of designated disabled parking places: Up to 200 spaces - 5% of car park (min 3 spaces); Over 200 spaces - 4% of car park plus 4 spaces; request the involvement of the Disability Access Office in the progress of this development; Entrances should be accessible to an unassisted wheelchair user; Exits, particularly for emergency evacuation should be accessible; Accessible emergency exits should lead on to pathways that provide an accessible route away from the building; All reception counters should contain at least one section suitable for wheelchair users; Where the building is over more than one level then a lift should be provided of sufficient dimensions as to allow an unassisted wheelchair user to enter, turn around and use the controls; Corridors should be wide to allow for the very heavy pedestrian traffic expected at set times and should contain respite areas; Lecture rooms and classrooms should be of sufficient size to allow a wheelchair user to enter and manoeuvre; Where auditorium seating is provided then a number of spaces should be available in different places for wheelchair users; Facilities, including toilets should be available for disabled staff as well as for disabled students; A reasonable proportion of rooms should be of more generous proportions to assist ambulant disabled people and a proportion of rooms should be adapted for wheelchair users; Any student facilities (laundry etc.) should be accessible and usable by an unassisted wheelchair user; Where public toilet facilities are provided this should include the provision of a disabled toilet; A clear width of 2000 mm allows two wheelchairs to pass one another comfortably; minimum widths of 3000 mm at bus stops and 3500 mm to 4500 mm by shops; crossfall on footways and footpaths... a figure of 2.5 per cent (1 in 40) should be regarded as the maximum acceptable; Guardrails and barriers at the side of or across footways should be at least high; preferably measured from ground level; Mobility impaired people need seating at reasonably frequent intervals... seats should be provided at intervals of no more metres; Joints between flags and pavers should not be less than and not more than wide; Maximum deviation of the footway surface under a metre straight edge should not exceed; maximum size of openings in covers and gratings should be; Surfaces should be firm, slip-resistant (dry friction between 35 and 45) in wet and dry conditions

Bats may roost behind ivy in the summer so any licensed felling should be done November - February

Conditions requested: Lighting at night should therefore be minimised to that required by any health and safety requirements; lighting kept to a low level and preferably downward-pointing if possible (or inward-pointing if on a bridge); Gentle glowing night-lights have proved to be adequate; the line of mature trees along the road retained for bats to feed around and also for them to navigate along; any licensed felling should be done November - February (assuming that there are no deep rot holes)

I believe the indicated tree loss is acceptable and think it is unlikely this Department would oppose your application on these grounds