Overview

I attended the City Chambers for a Volunteer Glasgow event with a colleague. I'm a manual wheelchair user, and she uses a powerchair. Overall, we were able to navigate the building and had plenty of room to set up our table. We had a pleasant day at the event and spoke to lots of people who were interested in learning about the work of Euan’s Guide. We're always looking for volunteers, so don't be shy!

Transport & Parking

Parking is a major shortcoming in the area, with recent developments removing accessible parking spaces that once sat on either side of George Square. If you're lucky, you might find one of the accessible parking spaces on West George Street or one of the standard spaces on Ingram Street, where I managed to park. There is additional parking at nearby Queen Street, which has a large number of accessible parking spaces. At the northeast corner of George Square, you'll find Queen Street Railway Station and a taxi rank. There are also plenty of public bus routes in the area and a subway station at nearby Buchanan Street, which is not suitable for wheelchair users but may work for those with other impairments.

Access

Accessibility is a mixed bag overall. When approaching from George Square, you'll note that cars are blocked from driving past the front entrance. There are no dropped kerbs or tactile paving on this route. If you cross at West George Street, the lights have a tactile cone, tactile paving and dropped kerbs, but they are at the foot of a hill. The entrance to the building has a short ramp with a push button on the wall, which activates the inwards-opening door. Straight ahead, you'll find the reception desk, which is low and features an induction loop. The lifts are in a corridor to the right of the reception desk, where there's a rather narrow space to turn into the lift. A colleague who attended the event with me is a powerchair user. They had to angle themselves and wiggle a bit. It's manageable but a little awkward. This small lift features a grab rail around the perimeter and braille buttons but no induction loop. I attended an event on the second floor and found the lift exit was just as tight as on the ground floor. As the event was on the other side of the building, I took a left and followed the route around. I encountered a set of double doors with a button to unlock but not open them. If I'd gone right instead, I'd have found the doors by the stairwell, which were pinned open and easier to navigate. I understand there is a café upstairs, but it was hardly worth the journey back to the lift to access. There are several ramps in the main foyer. For those who can use the stairs, there are no grab rails, but there are marble bannisters. My score for this section considers the lack of alternative communication formats, the lack of a hearing loop in the lift, and the fact that there is only one lift, which is really small.

Toilets

There are accessible toilets on all levels of the building. I used the one on the second floor, which was fine but nothing special. The door to the toilet opens inwards and does not require a RADAR key. There is enough room to turn a manual wheelchair or powerchair, and the toilet seat is left-side transfer only due to how close it is to the wall. The toilet seat features a soft back, with a grab rail on the left side only. The emergency cord is on your left when seated and hung to the floor during my visit. On this same wall, you'll find the small sink, which has rails on both sides, which is great, but the soap dispenser is mounted high up on the wall, making it hard to access when seated in a wheelchair. It's worth noting that there is no Changing Places toilet at this location, but you'll find one on the lower level of Queen Street Railway Station.

Staff

The staff were helpful, considerate and quick to signpost the lift when they noticed I was a wheelchair user.

Photos