Access to Council Buildings
The overwhelming majority of Council buildings that are open to the public provide reasonable access for wheelchair users and other disabled people. Through a programme of improvements between 2003 and 2005/6, access to the majority of buildings open to the public was improved, including, where possible, improving access to people with sensory impairments by installing induction loops, upgrading lighting and improving colour contrast.
If you have difficulty in accessing a Council building to which the public are normally allowed access, please let us know - email Jane Young or telephone 020 8547 5314 and we'll see if we can improve the situation. However, it should be borne in mind that many of our buildings are very old and some are nearly impossible to make fully accessible, so it will sometimes be necessary for us to provide the service in another way so that you don't have to visit.
Access to buildings on the Guildhall complex
There are a small number of spaces for blue badge holders on the Guildhall complex; alternatively there are many blue badge spaces in Drapers car park nearby.
Main Guildhall building
Most Council meetings are held in the main Guildhall building at the front of the Guildhall complex, facing the high street. Although the Guildhall is a listed building and there is no wheelchair access at the front, level access is available at the rear of the building where there is an entryphone to alert the receptionist that you need to come in. There is a wheelchair accessible toilet opposite the Council chamber. Residents are welcome to attend most Council meetings. The Reception desk, Council Chamber, Queen Anne Suite and Committee Room 1 are all equipped with hearing enhancement systems (either induction loop or infra-red; please ask staff for assistance).
Guildhall 1
Guildhall 1 houses Community Services, including Housing. There is level access through automatic doors and a wheelchair accessible toilet opposite the entrance, for which a RADAR key is needed. A RADAR key can be borrowed from the reception desk. The reception desk is equipped with an induction loop system.
Guildhall 2
Guildhall 2 houses Council Tax and Benefits, the Parking Shop, Learning and Children's Services (including education) and Environmental Services (including Planning). There is a fairly long, steep ramp available for wheelchair users and parents with children in buggies. If you are not able to climb the ramp unaided, there is a help button at the bottom of the ramp to summon assistance. Council Tax and Benefits and the Parking Shop are on the ground floor, and there is lift access to the first floor for Learning and Children's Services and to the second floor for Environmental Services (including Planning).
Both the ground floor reception desk and the Environmental Services helpdesk on the second floor are equipped with induction loop systems.
There are wheelchair accessible toilets opposite Guildhall 2 reception (ground floor) and adjacent to the Environmental Services Helpdesk (second floor). RADAR keys can be borrowed from the reception desk or helpdesk as appropriate.