Disability Access Statement for Ford Wetley Cottage Self-Catering Holiday Cottage
Introduction
This holiday cottage is set off a tarmac dead end lane turning into a gravel drive. The drive to the cottage is on a slope with loose gravel stones. You can park close to the cottage, there is an EV charger attached to the side of the building.
The cottage is 6 miles from good local amenities including large and small supermarkets, some offering scooter to hire. Supermarket delivery is accepted to the door of the cottage. There are also Post Office, bank, cash points, restaurants and cafes in town. There is a cottage hospital with an A&E department for small injuries up until 6pm weekdays. The Nearest hospitals for the large A&E are at Stoke and Derby. We aim to provide you with a detailed statement, but if you would like further information or photos/videos of the cottage, please email info@fordwetleycottage.co.uk or call the Mobile 07736 351257. We have a detailed video tour on Youtube that you can request and help prepare a visual timetable with supplying photos. The owners of the cottage are disability aware and respect peoples privacy but can also offer advice to local places.
Pre-Arrival
– We have a web-site www.fordwetleycottage.co.uk on which pictures of the interior can be seen.
- Bookings and enquiries can be made via email or phone as above.
- We have a book and order bus service 7 days a week with Moorlands Connect. They cover most of the Staffordshire Moorlands, a map can be found on their web site www.moorlandsconnect.co.uk, the nearest bus stop is in the local village of Ford, which is 500m away, across the bridge and outside Ford Farm. You may be able to call and ask to be collected from the cottage. They accept wheel chairs, bikes and dogs. Bookings can be made by calling 01335 342951 weekdays only.
- The nearest train Station is Stoke on trent, 12 miles away. Uber Taxi service may cover this area.
- We provide a welcome hamper on arrival which includes, juice, eggs, milk, biscuits and crisps. Also mini jams, salt, pepper, oil, sugar, tea, coffee, toilet paper, kitchen roll, together with basic cleaning materials and dishwasher tablets.
- Detailed directions to the cottage will be emailed to you.
Arrival and parking facilities
The cottage is accessed off the dead end lane, down a gravel drive and through a wooden gate (which you can request to be left open). Parking can be next to the front door. There is a key box for the key for entry to the cottage. Lights and heating will be on for your arrival, as well as motion sensing lights when it’s darl. The drive is on a slope with loose gravel, there are 3 wide steps up into the cottage (no hand rail) and the key box is next to the door. There is no mobile signal at the cottage, but there is free Wifi, code in kitchen. This can be used for Wifi calling, subject to your phone being able to do this. The nearest signal, depending on phone carrier is up into a field beyond the cottage. The closest AED unit is at Country Kitchen Cafe, located 2 miles on the A523.
Garden Area
The sloped drive goes down to a wooden ‘pub style’ bench and lawned area with a wooden swing seat. There is a private gate into a very uneven field with streams and this can get boggy. Off the drive, there is a step up onto a wooden decking with heavy wooden chairs and tables. There is also a cabin with heavy wooden doors and a small step into and seating inside. There is motion sensor lighting plus additional light switched. Fairy lights are solar power and will also be on when dark. Decking can get slippery when wet.
Refuse Area
This is located opposite the cottage by the wood store. Refuse and recycling can be left in the cottage however.
THE COTTAGE
General Decor
The ground floor of the cottage is all on one level. The cottage is decorated with pale and bright coloured paint work on the walls, PVC window frames and wooden floor in the sitting room and downstairs bedroom. There is tiles in the kitchen which can get slippery when wet. There is flag stones in the small hallway and into the sitting room, with a small lip up onto the wooden flooring. The hallways are not wide enough for a wheel chair to get around easily. There are no rugs on the floor. Carpet is on the stairs and upstairs bedrooms.
Kitchen
The main entrance leads to the kitchen, which has painted wooden doors with a granite worktop, plus a wooden table with chairs, not wide enough for a wheelchair to easily manoeuvre around. There is one light switch as you enter the kitchen from the hall on the right hand side. There is a washing machine, dishwasher and oven with a drop down door all at floor level. A fridge/freezer with the door hinging to the left, and the fridge being on the top, there are 3 drawers for the freezer at the bottom and a ceramic hob on the work surface with 4 burners. The pans and plates are kept in corner cupboards which you have to lean into to reach. There is a microwave and toaster on the worktop. There is a sink with a twist turn mixer tap. Cutlery is in a pull out drawer and cups/glasses are in a wall height cupboards.
Lounge Area
There is a light switch around to the lift above a cupboard which you have to reach over. Also a floor lamp with a push button at floor level and a lamp on top of a cupboard. The flag stones from the main entrance lead into the lounge and then a small lip onto the wooden floor. There is a wood burning stove, logs and kindling will be in the basket by the side of the fire. There is a low coffee table, 2 leather sofas and two chairs. There is a TV with satellite and Netflix. A bookcase with a selection of books and games.
Ground Floor Bedroom
The bedroom leads off from the kitchen, a lights switch on the wall as you enter on the right. There is a king size bed with access to each side, a bedside table with a lamp each side, a wooden wardrobe with the door opening to the left, a small cupboard with pull out drawers and a wooden dining chair. There is a sliding wooden door leading to the shower room with a tiled floor. Here there is a toilet, sink, fitted towel rail and a shower with a small metal step up into it. There is not enough room for a wheel chair in the bedroom or the bathroom and no handrails.
Upstairs
There are carpeted stairs leading to a hallway with 2 chairs and a large ceramic plant pot. All windows upstairs have child catches to stop them opening wide enough to fall out, this can be pressed on each side to open wider.
Family Room
The light switch is on the wall to the right. This room is carpeted and has a wooden double bed, a full size wooden single bed, each without ends, bedside tables with a lamp each, a chair and a fitted wardrobe with hanging space. There is an en-suite shower room with a laminate floor, a toilet, sink, fitted towel rail and a shower with a step un into it.
Double room
The light switch is on the wall to the left. This room is carpeted with a double wooden bed without an end, access each side of the bed with bedside tables and a lamp and a chair. There is a fitted wardrobe with hanging space. The room has an attached bath room with laminate flooring, a bath, sink, fitted towel rail and toilet. There is a shower within the bath with a glass fixed screen.