Cathedrals must offer a welcome to everyone [
accessibility dimension, even if that is not CATHEDRALS ARE BEAUTIFUL historic their focus – new lighting, reordering or buildings and living places of worship and they toilets for example. should be open to – and able to be enjoyed – A named member of chapter should manage by all. proposals to carry out access works or to install Cathedral chapters have a responsibility, new access equipment. both as Christian places of worship and under The proposals should be developed in the Equality Act 2010, to make reasonable close discussion with the cathedral architect provision for access, including identifying and and archaeologist to make sure the impact dealing with any obstacle to accessing their of the work is understood and any necessary cathedral and its precincts. They need to take mitigation measures are incorporated from an reasonable steps to make it possible for a early stage. disabled person to use their services. Hull-based access consultants About Access The advice given to all churches, which of advocate that architects and project leaders course includes cathedrals, is that they should should avail themselves of the services of an think about: access expert at an early stage. • The access to the inside and In its guidance, the Cathedrals Fabric • outside of the building Commission recommends an even more • Accessing the toilets proactive approach: “The commission strongly • Accessing noticeboards encourages all cathedral chapters to carry out • Circulating in the churchyard and on paths an access audit of the cathedral, its precinct • Participating in the service or other Photo © Robin Stott (cc-by-sa/2.0) and ancillary buildings as appropriate, to • activities provide an accurate picture of access issues They should also consider if there is anything Access ramp up to Coventry Cathedral entrance and needs. that prevents or makes it unreasonably difficult “It also encourages all chapters subsequently to develop an access for a disabled person to get involved. If so, then reasonable steps must policy for their cathedral to provide a framework for managed solutions be taken to: to access issues such as carrying out work to the cathedral building, • Change or remove it precinct or ancillary buildings, and installing new access equipment; and • Offer another method to use the services to guide the development of specific proposals. This policy should be • Provide aids – eg induction loops, handrails, large-print sheets, etc reviewed and updated on a regular basis.” q Many types of works at a cathedral will have an access and
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