Access Statement

Chart Hill Cottage dates from the 18th century and is a typical example of the Kentish weatherboarded houses found in the area. We cannot make wholesale changes to our access, as this would be detrimental to the character of the property, but we do try to make our house as accessible as we can, in order that as many people as possible can enjoy a stay in our wonderful home overlooking the Weald of Kent.

General Information

• Check in is from 16.00 hours (earlier check in by prior arrangement). A familiarisation tour is carried out on arrival.

• There is public transport provision in the area. Railway stations serving London can be found at Staplehurst and Headcorn (each a 10 minutes drive/taxi ride away) and buses run on the main A274 road between Maidstone and Tenterden – we keep copies of relevant public transport timetables.

• Breakfast is a mixture of table service and self-service but by request this can be fully served. Please let us know in advance if you have any specific requirements for breakfast. There is plenty of colour contrast between furniture, furnishings, wall finishes, napery and crockery. We do not provide evening meals but there are many good inns and restaurants in the area and we are happy to make bookings for you if requested.

• We do not accept pets other than well behaved assistance dogs.

• Mobile phone reception is generally good in the guest bedrooms but signal reception is occasionally a little weak in the guest lounge.

• We are a no smoking premises.

• We can store medication in our main fridge on request (not available 24 hours).

• The nearest village is Sutton Valence; 1.5 miles away. It has a Post Office with general store and four local inns. Headcorn is approximately 4 miles away with village shops, tea rooms and a small Sainsburys store. Maidstone, which is Kent’s county town, is approximately 5 miles away.

• You can contact us via phone (01622 844397 or 0771 4597108) or email (maggiet@gotadsl.co.uk).

Emergency Actions

• There are linked smoke detectors fitted in all the bedrooms, the ground floor public rooms and on the staircase of the house.

• Emergency lighting is fitted on the first floor landing and on the staircase of the house.

• We are able to use the front and back doors in the need of evacuation, the fire alarm will sound continuously if evacuation is needed. If you require more assistance for evacuating please notify us on arrival and we will ensure you are evacuated safely e.g. hearing impairment.

• Emergency information is provided in each bedroom and can be communicated verbally on request.

• Please let us know if you have any concerns about procedures.

Mobility Access

We advise that guests or visitors with mobility difficulties should telephone us on 01622 844397 in advance of arrival. This to ensure that there is somebody available to offer assistance if required and to meet any personal requirements.

We will be delighted to assist you with any pre-booking or pre-arrival queries you may have, or to make dining or taxi arrangements for you.

General

All guest bedrooms are on the first floor of the house. There are no ground floor bedrooms.

All guest bedroom doors are fire-rated and have fire door closing springs. None are difficult to open. All door handles are brass against the light oak doors and all door apertures are 76cm, with the exception of the en suite doors in guest bedrooms which are 60cm.
 
All guest bedrooms have a flat screen digital TV with text and sub-title facilities and Freeview channels. All TVs have remote controls.
 
There are no grab handles fitted to shower enclosures or baths. None of our WCs are modified for disabled use.

Power points are generally set at a height of 20cm and light switches are generally 130cm from the floor and are of the rocker type. In the guest bedrooms, the bedside lights are touch lamps and can be operated from the sleeping position.

Mobile phone services work in guest bedrooms although signal reception is occasionally a little weak in the guest lounge.

We have enlarged print guest information folders on request.
 
Guide dogs are welcome although no other pets can be accepted.

The staircases are fully carpeted with a handrail on the wall side.

Additional heating in the form of electric heaters and also electric fans for the hotter weather are available on request.

Car Parking and approach to the Cottage

Parking for one car is available on the road directly in front of the Cottage. It is on a slight incline and there is no kerb. Hard paved parking for two cars is available at the rear of the Cottage accessed through white gates (height restriction for 4x4s). There are no marked parking bays. The parking at the rear is also on a slight incline. The external surfaces are level with no kerbs but on a slight incline. The external approaches are lit at night. Assistance with luggage is always offered.

Main Entrance and Reception

There are three shallow brick steps from the road up to the main entry porch door which opens to the main door which then opens directly into a square reception hall. The porch and main door are 76cm wide. There are no ground floor bedrooms.
 
Hall, Stairs, Landing, Dining and Guest Bedrooms

There is an 80 cm wide staircase (three steps with handrail) from the reception area into the guest lounge and breakfast area. Guests need to walk through the guest lounge and up one wooden step to access the staircase to the first floor guest bedrooms. There are no bedrooms on the ground floor.

The 80cm wide staircase to the first floor accommodation has eleven steps and is accessed from the guest lounge via an 80cm door.

All floors and stairs are carpeted throughout. There is ample lighting in the common areas and also in each room, which may be controlled to meet individual requirements. A torch is provided in each guest room, in case of power-failure.

Guest Bedrooms

The landing is carpeted and well lit with no steps to the Brambles bedroom or Orchard bedroom but with one carpeted step to the Hillside bedroom. The Brambles Room has its own private bathroom. This is five paces down the hallway and then one carpeted step down to the Brambles bathroom. The Orchard and Hillside rooms are en suite.

The Brambles Room – Superking double or Twin room with private bathroom

This bedroom has level access from the landing. The room measures 15’ x 10’ and can contain one superking 6’ wide double bed or two standard 3’ beds which are 24” to the top of the mattress. When set up as a twin room, there are 21” between the beds, with access to both sides of one bed and to one side of the other bed. There is a bedside table between the two beds and by the side of one of the beds. When set up as a superking double room there is 20”-25” access to both sides of the bed with a bedside table on each side of the bed. Each bedside table has a sensored base touch lamp on it. There are two wooden chairs, a large wardrobe containing extra blankets, and a tall chest of drawers in the room. The hostess tray is on the chest of drawers and the electric points are at skirting board level. The flat screen digital TV has a remote control. The radiator is thermostatically controlled. The floor is carpeted and the furnishings, furniture and wall finishes are in soft pale colours.

The private bathroom is not en suite and is accessed five paces away along the landing and down one carpeted step with handrail. The bathroom door is 76” wide. It contains a bath with separate power shower. The base of the bath does not have a non-slip surface and there are no hand rails on either side of the bath. A non-slip rubber bath mat is provided. The height of the side of the bath is 23”. The shower is accessed through curved sliding doors and does not have a non slip surface. It has a digital power shower. A rubber bath mat is provided for use in the shower. There is a wash hand basin with lever action tap, electric shaver point with light over the mirror, dual flush WC and bathroom stool. The floor is tiled. There is a centrally heated ladder towel radiator on the wall.

The Orchard Room - Double Bedroom with En-Suite Shower Room

This bedroom has level access from the landing. It is a double room (12’ x 10’) and is carpeted. The bed is a French cherry wood kingsize sleigh bed and 24” high, with bedside tables on either side with sensored, touch base lamps. There is 20”-25” access to either side of the bed. There is a wooden chair, chest of drawers, digital flat screen TV on the wall and wardrobe. The hostess tray is on the chest of drawers and the power point is 12” above table top height. There is good contrast between furniture, furnishing and wall finishes. The room has 4 double wall sockets as well as the bedside lights. The radiator is thermostatically controlled.

There are two tiled steps down from the bedroom to the en suite shower room with WC and wash basin. The en suite door is 60cm wide. The shower cubicle has a sliding door with non slip surface and digital power shower. There is an electric towel rail. There is a wash hand basin with lever action tap, electric shaver point, mirror and dual flush WC. The floor is tiled.

The Hillside Room – kingsize double room with en suite shower room

This bedroom is accessed along the first floor landing and down one carpeted step. It is a double room (13’ x 13’) and is carpeted. The bed is a mahogany kingsize sleigh bed and 24” high, with bedside tables on either side with sensored, touch base lamps. There is 27” access to either side of the bed. The hostess tray is on the chest of drawers and the power point is at skirting board height. There is a cane chair, flat screen TV, chest of drawers and wardrobe in the room. There is good contrast between furniture, furnishing and wall finishes. The room has 4 double wall sockets as well as the bedside sensored touch base lamps. The radiator is thermostatically controlled.

There are no steps from the bedroom to the en suite shower room with WC and wash basin. The shower cubicle has a sliding door with non slip surface and digital power shower. There is a centrally heated radiator towel rail. There is a wash hand basin with lever action tap, electric shaver point, mirror and dual flush WC. The floor is tiled.

Gardens
There is access via the side gates to the back garden which is mostly flat, with a mix of paving, flower beds, potted plants and lawn.
Your comments
We welcome your comments on access to the property and this Access Statement.
 
Last updated: April 2010
Chart Hill Cottage Bed & Breakfast
Chart Road, Chart Sutton, Kent ME17 3RG
Tel: 01622 844397