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WQ.80/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER
BY DEPUTY L.V. FELTHAM OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2023
Question
“Will the Chief Minister advise –
- how many, and which, Government of Jersey buildings have had accessibility audits undertaken;
- how many, and which, Government of Jersey buildings are due to have accessibility audits undertaken;
- what recommendations have been made in any audits undertaken; and
- what progress has been made in relation to any such recommendations?”
Answer
The following buildings had physical accessibility audits completed in 2020, selected because they were public facing premises:
• 23 Hill Street
• Jersey Library
• Beresford House
• Central Market
• Fish Market
• Bermuda House
• Broad Street
• DVS
• Liberty Wharf
• Magistrates & Probation
• Maritime House
• Morier House
• Opera House
• Registrar Office
• States building
The outcome of the audits showed, however, that the Building Byelaws (Jersey) 1997 law mandates physical access requirements which were generally met unless the listed nature of the buildings determined that the addition of facilities such as ramps were not allowed or not practical. There were some additional omissions, such as hearing loops in the States building, which have now been addressed.
In addition, the focus has changed from a pure physical access approach to a more inclusive consideration of our spaces. The local charity, Liberate, has been involved in considering staff training, colour schemes, noise gradients, and looked at a much broader consideration of accessibility. 57 of our premises, below, have been audited by Liberate with the remainder being scheduled. An example report is appended to this question. The limit to speed of completion is Liberate resourcing and survey capacity as much as funds availability.
CYPES
• Highlands College
• La Sente School
• Victoria College
• Trinity School
• St Lukes School
• Victoria College Prep
• Les Landes School
• Springfield School
• Rouge Bouillon School
• Mont Cantel
• First Tower School
• St Saviours School
• La Moye School
• Grands Vaux School
• Bel Royal Primary School & Nursery
• d'Auvergne Primary School & Nursery
• Grouville Primary School & Nursery
• Jersey College for Girls
• Jersey College for Girls Preparatory School
• Mont Nicolle School & Nursery
• Plat Douet Primary School & Nursey
• d'Hautree House School
• Samares Primary School & Nursery
• St Clements Primary School & Nursery
• St Johns Primary School & Nursery
• St Peters Primary School & Nursery
• Grainville Secondary School
• Haute Vallee Secondary School
• Le Rocquier Secondary School
• Les Quennevais Secondary School
• Mont a L'Abbe Primary School
• Mont a L'Abbe Secondary School
• Phillip Mourant Training Centre
• St Martins Primary School & Nursery
• St Marys Primary School
Health
• CSSD
• Central Stores
• Laundry
• General Hospital
• Crematorium
• Sandybrook
Administration buildings
• 23 Hill Street
• Jersey Library
• Beresford House
• Central Market
• Fish Market
• Bermuda House
• Broad Street
• DVS
• Liberty Wharf
• Magistrates & Probation
• Maritime House
• Morier House
• Opera House
• Registrar Office
• States Building
A list of ongoing improvements has been provided and a short extract from a particular school’s ‘action list’ is given below, as an example. Each establishment has a similar list of improvements.
External ramps and steps
• Add contrasting nosings to the main steps into the playground. Ensure the handrails extend at both ends to the level landing points. Adjust the paving slabs so they finish flush with the riser below.
• Add a central handrail at two heights to the nursery steps into the playground. Ensure the handrails extend at both ends to the level landing points.
• Add contrasting nosings to the nursery steps into the playground. Add handrails on both sides at two heights. Ensure the handrails extend at both ends to the level landing points. Adjust the paving slabs so they finish flush with the riser below
• Add risers to the wooden steps to close them. Add contrasting nosings to the edge of the steps using white paint
Foyer and reception desks
• Add a decal to each pane of the sliding reception windows. Ensure they do not obscure the face of the receptionist from a standing or seated user.
• Add a shelf to the lower-level counter to create a knee recess on the visitor’s side that would allow a wheelchair user to sign in.
• Where a receptionist is a wheelchair user or needs more room to manoeuvre due to a mobility impairment, widen the aisle leading to the desk area to at least 80cm.
• Offer some standard height chairs with arms in the foyer.
• Add a handrail at two heights on either side of the steep steps from reception beside the ramp. Ensure the handrails extend at both ends to the level landing points. Add corduroy tactile rubber tiles to the top of the steps to warn of the hazard.
The Disability and Inclusion Team and stakeholders have been involved in the design of the new GoJ HQ to ensure it is broadly accessible. The Team is also involved in other developments, such as the Waterfront, to ensure accessibility is central to the design.
In addition, the Team, more generally, have undertaken a web audit to identify accessibility issues across government webpages. Support has been provided to IT in creating draft accessibility guidelines.
Example Liberate report - WQ80.pdf