The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has a policy of ensuring safe and reasonable means of access to, and use of, the facilities at St Michael's Church, the Church Yard and the Church Hall. This is to allow people (whether disabled or not) proper, safe and reasonable access.

The PCC, through the remits of the Fabric, Church Yard and Church Hall committees, is committed to ensuring that reasonable steps are taken to meet the obligations of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA): 1995. The committees will assess the accessibility requirements and take reasonable steps to ensure that people with disabilities, in using the facilities, will not be disadvantaged.

Statement adopted by PCC on 22 Jan 2004

There are paths from the surrounding roads up to the main entrances into the church and the adjoining Parish Centre. The paths have a slight incline but no steps.

There is level access into the church and Parish Centre. The three primary exit routes are all level-access, but one secondary exit route has a step which is due to be converted into a ramp.

Throughout the building, the doorways, corridors and aisles are all wide enough for a wheelchair to pass. There is a single step between the nave and the chancel and a second step from the chancel up to the high altar. Access to the bell ringing chamber is via a spiral staircase.

There are two toilets in the Parish Centre. One is equipped with baby-changing facilities. The other is more convenient for people with disabilities, e.g. wheelchair users.

The church is equipped with a 'sound reinforcement system' which is connected to loudspeakers plus a hearing loop for people with an appropriate hearing aid.

For people with a visual impairment, large-print versions of hymnals and service books are available. There are also Braille versions of service books available.

At eucharist services, the bread and wine are distributed from the high altar step. (At the Parish Eucharist service at 9:30 am on Sundays, the bread and wine are also distributed from the Lady Chapel.) For wheelchair users and those with limited mobility, the bread and wine are brought to the person in their seat.

St Michael's Church PCC has produced a comprehensive Health and Safety Policy.

Our policy, so far as is reasonably practicable, is to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and systems of work for all our employees, casual labour, voluntary helpers and contractors, and to provide such information, training and supervision as they need for this purpose.

Full details can be found in the Health and Safety Policy Document that you may download and read as required here.

• user-adjustable font sizes
• clear fonts (principally Verdana)
• good colour contrasts
• simple layouts
• full annotation of tables & images to aid navigation, e.g. by those using a speaking web-browser
• minimal use of scripts to ensure accessibility by users with the widest range of PC platforms/configurations
• inclusion of a site map.

For further information, please refer to the published Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Any comments on ways to improve accessibility of the website would be appreciated.