New lift planned at Mansfield's Water Meadows to improve disabled access

Work is expected to begin on the new external lift later this year after planning permission was granted by Mansfield District Council.

The £70,000 project aims to offer disabled visitors more dignity by allowing them to enter and leave the building by the same entrances and exits as other people, a report to the council’s overview and scrutiny committee states.

Work on the new lift was delayed due to the Covid pandemic but ground surveys have now been completed on the site and the deadline for contractors to tender for a construction contract has now passed.

The work is the final project in a five-year plan to make all council-run leisure centres more accessible for disabled people in the district – with more than £260,000 ploughed into the scheme over the period, the report states.

Work already completed at Water Meadows, the Rebecca Adlington Centre in Mansfield Woodhouse, Oak Tree Leisure Centre and the River Maun Recreation Centre, include dropped curbs, hand railings and improved signage.

A new pool transfer lift was also installed at the Rebecca Adlington centre, the report states.

All work was commissioned following an inspection of council sites – run by the Mansfield District Leisure Trust – following access audits by Disability Nottinghamshire during 2014-15.

“The report states: “Just a small number of items were unable to be delivered because they were not practicable.

“These include adjustments to the changing door controls on doors and cubicles, due to the significant damage being caused to the doors.

“The movement of hand driers closer to sinks, could not be delivered due to electrical and building regulations.

“All accessible changing room and toilet door handles have been changed where required.”

Once work on the new lift is finished, the project – which also includes new locks and hearing loops and was instigated as part of the trust’s inclusive fitness initiative – will be complete.

“The completion of the outstanding external lift works at Water Meadows is a hugely important project. As a consequence, service users are now able to benefit from improved accessibility at each of the council’s leisure centres.”

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