Sheltercombe Cottage Access Statement
August 2007
1. Access to the property
Limited car parking (one or two cars, depending on family arrangements) is available on our drive, which has a slightly uneven and rough surface. Access to the drive is by reverse parking through a hedge-bordered gateway which is unevenly lit. Access to the house from the drive is by egress back on to the lane, and re-entry through the pedestrian gate at the front of the property (approximately 25 metres). There are no street lights on the lane.
Parking directly outside the property is available in a layby directly adjacent to the property’s boundary hedge and immediately next to the pedestrian access gate at the front.
Access to the cottage is via a pedestrian gate in the boundary hedge. The access is lit at the gateway by the road and also outside the front door. The pathway from the road to the door is approximately 10 metres in length and has a flagstone surface, but is not straight.
There is a very small step (a 5cm rain-stopping ridge) through the first (stable) door of the storm porch from the path. The porch door and the front door are both 85cm wide. There is no step from the porch through the front door to the dining room.
All guest leisure areas and bedrooms are carpeted.
Downstairs, guests have use of the dining room and a lounge. The door to the lounge is quite narrow (65cm wide). The lounge has some room for manoeuvrability. The dining room has ample room for manoeuvrability. The dining table is 70cm high with 45cm high chairs (seat level). Dietary requirements can be catered for (with advance notice of any more particular issues please).
All guest bedrooms are located on the first floor. There are 11 steps up with no handrail on the wall (right hand) side; the bannister rail provides support on the left side ascending.
All guest rooms are located towards the rear of the property and guests must pass under a low beam 160cm in height to access their accommodation. All guest bedrooms and, where applicable, bathroom facilities are accessed via the same hallway. A dimmable table light is maintained on overnight in the hall to enable guests to find their way should this be necessary.
Long Meadow is a twin room with ensuite shower room. The room has a main light and touch sensitive table lights by the bed and on the dressing table. The remote control colour television (with teletext) is located on top of the cupboard at the end of the beds (180cm high). There is a gap of 35cm between the twin beds. The bedroom is carpeted with some colour contrast between wall and floor.
The ensuite shower room has a walk in shower only (step up into the shower tray of approximately 25cm). The shower is 70cm by 70cm. The shower head is height adjustable and the shower controls are push button for on/off, dial operated for temperature selection. The toilet is low level. There is overhead lighting and vanity lighting over the mirror. The taps are lever operated. The floor is laminate. There is no shower seat available.
Pony Paddock is a standard double room. The room has a main light and touch sensitive table lights by the bed and on the dressing table. The remote control colour television (with teletext) is located across the room on a chest of drawers approximately 2m away from the nearside of the bed. The gap between the end of the bed and wall, and that between the far side of the bed and wall is 50cm in both cases. The floor is carpeted.
The private shower room is immediately adjacent on the left exiting the Pony Paddock room. The floor is laminate. The basin mixer tap is lever operated. The toilet is low level. There is a step-over of 13cm to enter the shower cubicle which is 70cm by 70cm. The shower head is height adjustable and the shower controls are push button for on/off, dial operated for temperature selection. There is natural and overhead lighting and a vanity light over the mirror. There is no shower seat available.
Kitchen Garden is a standard double room. The room has a main light and touch sensitive table lights by the bed and on the dressing table. The remote control colour television (with integral DVD player, but no teletext) is located across the room on a blanket box approximately 2m away from the nearside of the bed. The gap between the end of the bed and wall, and that between the far side of the bed and wall is 50cm in both cases. The floor is carpeted.
The private bathroom is approximately 2m to the left on exiting the Kitchen Garden room. The floor is carpeted. The basin taps are lever operated. The toilet is low level. There is a step-over of 30cm to enter the shower cubicle which is a corner shower with a radius of 1m. The shower head is height adjustable and the shower controls are push button for on/off, dial operated for temperature selection. There is overhead and natural lighting. There is no shower seat available. There is a full size bath with lever operated taps. The bath has no handrails but a securely fastenable bath handle is available if required for assistance entering and exiting the bath (which is smooth based).
2. Fire Safety
Sheltercombe Cottage operates a mains and battery powered audible alarm system only. Guests requiring additional or particular assistance in the event of a fire are asked to make us aware of such requirements on arrival. All rooms are fitted with smoke alarms, which are checked regularly.
Each guest bedroom is each fitted with an escape window, which has no central pillar, and may be opened fully to provide a means of exit in an emergency. In the “Pony Paddock” and “Kitchen Garden” rooms these are the windows to the rear.
3. Public Transport and Local Services
There is a bus service to Barnstaple twice daily (No 310).
The village of Bratton Fleming is linearly aligned along a steep hill (downwards to the village from Sheltercombe Cottage). There is no street lighting until the village signs are reached (500 yards).
The village has a shop, a pub and a post office.
The most reliable mobile phone networks are Vodafone, Orange, O2 and 3.
4. Pets
Assistance dogs are welcome at Sheltercombe and may enjoy greater access to the property than non-assistance pets.
Please note we have our own dogs at the property who also live in the house.
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All the above information is available in large print format on request
