Beyond the Ramp: What Step-Free Access Really Requires in Dunbar
Photo: Sgroey, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A service can be listed as open to everyone and still be out of reach. That is the central lesson of the Hub's 2026 review of first-floor and upper-level services in Dunbar. The question is not simply whether a ramp exists at the front door. It is whether a person using a wheelchair, a rollator or a walking stick can complete the whole journey — from the pavement to the room, to the toilet, and back out again — without having to ask a stranger for help.
Why the first floor is a useful test
Upper-floor services concentrate the problem. A ground-floor entrance may look straightforward, but the route to a first-floor office, meeting room or advice session can involve a lift, a fire door, a corridor, a reception desk and a toilet. Each link can fail. When one link fails, the service is not step-free in any meaningful sense.
This matters for public services because access is rarely a single feature. It is a chain. A lift that is too small, a door that is too heavy or a sign that assumes prior knowledge can undo an otherwise good provision. The 2026 audit therefore treats access as a route, not a checkbox.
A four-stage access check
The Hub's method is deliberately simple. It can be used by venue managers, volunteers or residents with a clipboard and a tape measure.
First, arrival and entrance. Is there a level or gently sloping route from the nearest bus stop, drop-off point or car park? How heavy is the door? Is it automatic, manual or power-assisted? What is the threshold like? Is the bell or intercom at a reachable height? Is the entrance obvious from the street, or does it look like a fire exit?
Second, vertical movement. If the service is upstairs, what is the step-free alternative? Is the lift large enough for a wheelchair and a companion? Are the controls at a usable height? Is there an emergency communication system? What happens when the lift is out of order, and is that contingency published?
Third, the room and its facilities. Can a wheelchair turn inside the door? Is there space between tables? Is the counter at a suitable height? Is there an accessible toilet, and is it available without a key held at reception? Are signs clear, or do they rely on building knowledge?
Fourth, exit and reassurance. Can someone leave independently? Are staff confident about offering assistance without taking control? Is there a quiet route out if the main corridor becomes crowded? Good access includes dignity, not just dimensions.
Barriers that service lists rarely record
The barriers that matter most are often missing from service directories. Heavy fire doors are a common example. A door may meet fire regulations and still be difficult for someone with limited strength to open. Another is the unclear entrance: a side door, a buzzer, a steep step or a temporary sign that points to the wrong place.
Inaccessible toilets remain a significant gap. An accessible toilet that is used as a store cupboard, or one with a broken emergency cord, is not accessible in practice. Signs are another quiet barrier. A notice that says 'first floor' without saying how to reach it assumes the visitor already knows the building. Temporary lifts, building works and seasonal clutter can also close a route that was previously open.
These are not reasons to criticise venues. They are reasons to record access honestly and to update the record when things change.
Quick wins for local venues
Several improvements cost little. Venues can publish a photograph of the entrance and state whether the door is manual or automatic. They can keep the accessible route clear of A-boards, bins and temporary displays. They can adjust door closers, add temporary signage and check that the accessible toilet is not being used for storage.
Staff training matters too. A simple offer — 'Would you like me to hold the door, or would you prefer to manage?' — is more useful than an assumption. Venues should also publish what happens when a lift is out of order and provide a phone number or email for access questions.
A template for honest access notes
The Hub recommends a short, plain-English access note for every service. It should include: the venue and service name; the address and nearest step-free drop-off; the entrance type, door width and threshold; lift dimensions and controls; accessible toilet location and availability; hearing loop provision; staff assistance available; known limitations; and the date the note was last checked.
Avoid the phrase 'fully accessible' unless every part of the route has been verified. It is better to say what is available and what is not. A note that says 'step-free entrance, lift to first floor, accessible toilet on ground floor, no hearing loop' is more useful than a badge that says 'accessible' with no detail.
What happens next in 2026
The Hub will invite local venues to submit access notes using this template and will publish them alongside service information. The aim is not to rank buildings or to create a pass-or-fail list. It is to give residents reliable information before they travel and to help venues see where small changes would make a practical difference.
Access is a continuing process. Buildings change, staff change and temporary works appear. An honest note, reviewed regularly, is a public service in its own right.
