Mark Rissen
Manager
Ballina Cineplex
Mercey Road
Ballina
Co. Mayo
10th May 2004.


Dear Mark,

Many thanks for letting me have a look at the inside of the Cinema on the 7th April 2004. As you will agree there were a few things that I brought to your attention for wheelchair users.
Here is a list of items that would need attention:
The exterior door bell would need to be located between 900-1100mm from ground level to facilitate wheelchair users.
Many people, particularly those with visual impairments, have difficulty in recognising a see-through door. Where a door is mostly glazed or comprises a single pane of glass, it should be marked permanently within the 1200 – 1500mm range above the floor level, as to indicate its presence visually. The lower 400mm of such doors should, however, be of a solid material, so as to avoid possible damage from wheelchair footplates.
3) A kick panel at the foot of all doors leading to the 3 screens. It would be placed at the foot of each door running the full length of the door 200mm from bottom of door so as to avoid possible damage from wheelchair footplates.
Pull handles should be placed for closing the door placed opposite the door handle beginning at 8 inches from the hinge. Make sure it is about 2 inches wide and 8 inches long to suit everyone.
Some people, including older people who use wheelchairs only some of the time, will want to transfer to a seat. It is a management issue that the wheelchair is kept nearby and delivered if requested at an interval and at the end of a show.
Numbers and proportions of wheelchair accessible seats depend on the capacity of a particular venue. In premises with less than 1000 seats, six wheelchair accessible seats, or 1/50th of the capacity, whichever is the greater, are required by regulation. Where there are a number of venues in a particular building, e.g. a multi-screen cinema, the standards apply to each venue independently of the others. A person with a guide dog will need additional space beside the seat for the dog.
Disabled Parking. The following guidelines are: Minimum one space of appropriate dimensions in every 25 standard spaces, minimum three in 25-50 standard spaces, minimum five in 50-100 standard spaces.
Counters should facilitate both people standing and those in wheelchairs. A minimum 900m long section of counter, 750mm over floor level, will facilitate wheelchair users and children.
The design of the Disabled toilet needs alterations.

If you need any further information regarding the above feel free to contact me.
I await a reply.
With kindest regards,

…………………
Tom Chambers,
"The Billy Ranch"
Knocknageeha,
Newport,
Co. Mayo,
Access Officer for PwDI,
Mayo Network,
ID Number 24