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Rooms to improve

From the Penarth Times, first published Thursday 28th Feb 2002.

DISABLED users of the Paget Rooms could have easier access to the venue if plans currently under discussion go ahead.

Penarth Town Council, which owns the building, will tonight discuss issues surrounding the theatre which have arisen because of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Town clerk Edward Vick said: "A range of issues are currently being considered and periodic reports will be presented to the Leisure and Amenities Committee as these issues progress."

Tonight they will discuss access, with the immediate objective being the ground floor facilities. Mr Vick has highlighted the outer and inner doors and access to the building from pavement level as points of discussion.

He said: "In terms of level pavement access to the building, preliminary discussions with Vale of Glamorgan Council Highways indicate that in principle the pavement level outside the Paget Rooms can be adjusted, at town council expense, to overcome the step of approximately 8cm at the entrance."

He said the outer doors were incapable of being automatic, so in future, they would have to remain permanently open during periods of hire to provide unhindered disabled access.

Mr Vick said the inner doors leading to the foyer could open electronically, though preliminary investigations had indicated the only practical means would be a hand pad operated system. This would operate doors through 90 degrees in the direction of exit.

He indicated doors leading to the main hall could also operate in a similar manner.

He said: "In terms of cost preliminary indications suggest the minimum expenditure will be of the order of £10,000 to achieve access to the principal facilities on the ground floor of the Paget Rooms front of stage."

The meeting takes place at West House at 8pm tonight (Thursday).

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