Reading Mobility Centre
Visitor information pack
(Photo description: - the above photo is of the front of the Mobility Centre)
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Contents
Contents
Page number
Address and contact details
3
How to find us
4, 5
Car Parking
6
Local amenities
6
Visitor Information
7
Fire procedure
8, 9
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Address, contact details and key information for visitors
Guide Dogs
Reading Mobility Centre,
130 Wharfedale Road,
IQ Winnersh,
Reading
RG41 5RB
A link to a google map of our office location is here: - Reading Mobility Team
[email protected]
0845 372 7433
Nearest train station: - Winnersh Triangle
Please go to page 4 for a written description of the route to the team office
from the local station which is a few minutes away (Winnersh Triangle station).
There is also an audio description of the route available, please contact the
team to arrange to have this sent to you.
Key Information
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The centre is open from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday
The centre is used by our instructors as a base for their dogs in training
during the daytime. The training dogs are contained in playpens in the
open plan areas of the centre. We are unable to accommodate
visiting pet dogs for this reason.
If visitors are intending to bring a Guide Dog puppy in training or a
brood/stud dog with them, please contact the team in advance of
your visit (in line with Guide Dogs policy) to ensure that we can advise if
there are any issues to be aware of and prevent the spread of any
infections.
Please ignore all the dogs in the centre at all times to assist in training
appropriate social behaviour.
The team is spread over two floors, access to the second floor is by
stairs only.
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Route to the Reading Mobility Centre from Winnersh Triangle
Winnersh triangle station is operational from 6am to 11pm weekdays and
8am till 1pm on Saturdays
Section 1
Route from platform to street.
The station is a two platform unmanned station with the tracks in between.
Platform 1 is eastbound towards Waterloo and Platform 2 is westbound
toward Reading.
Alighting eastbound at the front of the train you are nearest the exit, turn right
and wait till the train has departed. Blister paving on your right to warn of
platform edge, and solid fencing to your left. The platform continues in a
straight line to descending exit steps.
Alighting Westbound you will be furthest from the exit at the front of the train.
Turn left and wait till the train has departed, blister paving on your left and
solid fencing on your right. Continue straight now walking back on yourself
the length of the platform to the descending exit steps.
Each platform is a mirror image of the other; 1 meter wide with pinch points
at the exits, so care is needed here.
After descending all steps from Platform 1 turn right with solid building line left
with is the back of the ticket office take the first left at the end of the BL to
exit the station the single exit gate.
After descending steps from Platform 2 continue down a 30 metre ramp
turning left at the end to walk under the railway bridge. A continuous fence
line on your right bends to the left to exit the station at the single exit gate.
Section 2
Route from the street level to Guide Dogs’ office.
After exiting the station veer to the right and carry straight on, this allows for
the wide open space on exiting the station and picking up the straight line of
the public highway adjacent. Carry straight on with traffic noise in front of
Wharfedale Road. This is a wide pavement with open metal fencing on your
right.
At the end turn/bend the wide right now on Wharfedale Rd. Guiding road on
left, grass verge on right.
Continue straight at the end turn right. Wharfedale traffic is now behind.
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Continue straight and follow right for the U-bend at the end meaning you will
now be parallel to your previous line of travel facing the opposite direction
continue straight to kerb edge.
The Guide Dogs office is on your left. Left to the perpendicular kerb and
cross.
Right turn on upkerb and straight for about 10 paces then left into double
doors of the Guide Dogs office.
Section 3
Route from Guide Dogs’ office to station
On exiting the guide dog office doors turn right and walk for approx. 10
paces, then turn left to the kerb edge.
Check for traffic and cross to the up kerb turning right and then left around
the u bend.
Carry straight on listening for traffic in front on Wharfedale Road.
At the end turn left, now on Wharfedale road traffic on your right grass verge
on your left.
Continue straight and turn left at the end or bend left with the pavement as
Wharfedale traffic is now behind you.
Continue straight on the last straight to the station train tracks are above and
ahead.
Dark wooden fencing ahead is the visual reference for veering right to find
the entrance in to the station at street level. Alternatively metal open fencing
on your left could be used for shore lining along the last straight and once
ends turn right locate wooden fencing in front and keeping wooden fencing
on your left will lead you left into the single entrance gate.
Section 4
Route from street level to platforms
If heading Eastbound towards Waterloo turn right with wooden fencing on
your left and left to ascend steps to platform 1 you will not pass under the
railway bridge. Keeping blister paving on right and wooden fence line on
your left at platform level you will be at the front of train when alighting.
If heading Westbound towards Reading on entering the station turn left and
continue straight passing under the bridge locating the ramp up on the right.
The ramp of approx. 30 meters in length leads to final ascending steps for
platform level. Continue straight now on platform 2 with blister paving on
your right and wooden fence line on your left. You will be at the back of the
train when alighting.
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Local Caterers/Eating Places
There is a café/restaurant called “Bistro 415” a two minute walk away from
the Centre that serves lunch and dinner and Costa Coffee to take away or
have in.
The Holiday Inn hotel and conference centre is opposite the office and has a
bar and restaurant. For further information please follow this link: http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/reading/reatr/hoteldetail
Parking facilities
The Centre has limited car parking available. Please only park in bays
marked with a Guide Dogs plaque (5 spaces in front of the office and 5
directly backing on to it) or in any of the 11 spaces marked with “130” in the
central block of spaces in the car park behind the office building. We are
unable to reserve car parking spaces. There is a disabled parking space at
the front of the building for blue badge holders.
If you are unable to park at the office, the station behind the office does
have “pay and display” parking available and is less than five minutes’ walk
away.
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Visitor Information
1. Fire procedure and arrangements
In the event of a fire all visitors should evacuate the building by the nearest
available exit. All visitors should make their way immediately to the Fire
Assembly Point which is located on the pavement beyond the parking at the
front of the building.
2. First aid arrangements.
A list of names and locations of the appointed first aider is displayed on the
main notice board in the downstairs kitchen. A first aid box is also available in
both kitchens.
3. Accident/ Incident/ Near Miss reporting procedures
If you have an accident whilst on this site please inform the person you are
visiting and ask them to make an entry in the Accident Book which is kept in
the office. They will also need to complete an incident investigation form.
4. Guide Dogs
Visitors should ignore dogs in the office. No pet dogs are able to access the
site due to landlord restrictions on dog numbers and the dogs in training we
have on site and the need to keep the office calm for them- and us!
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FIRE PROCEDURE
Reading Mobility Centre
Person in Charge: Manager on duty
Monday - Friday :
8.00 am - 6.00 pm Guide Dogs team
Monday - Friday 6.00 pm - 8.00 am
Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays
Business Park security staff
Business Park security staff
Upon hearing the alarm, it is the responsibility of the "Person in Charge" to
ensure that:
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The building is evacuated promptly and everyone proceeds immediately
to the designated Assembly Point on the pavement beyond the parking
at the front of the office.
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the Person in Charge notifies the Senior Fire Officer on exiting the building
that their designated area is clear
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if the alarm has been raised by a someone within the building, that as
much information is obtained as possible from that person e.g. where the
fire is, size/severity of the fire (if known) or has any action been taken to
contain or fight the fire - is anyone still trying to do so and as such is
unaccounted for. Under no circumstances should anyone re-enter the
building to obtain this information, to find another member of staff or to
collect a dog.
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the Fire Brigade is called - dial 999 from a "safe" area, giving accurate
information concerning location and wait for the address etc. to be
confirmed - should anyone have been injured it would also be necessary
to include the request for an ambulance at this point
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The Person in Charge should act as liaison with the Senior Fire Officer for
the business park in relation to the area they are responsible for. They
should provide clear and concise information regarding the location of
the fire, details of any missing persons or trapped dogs, and assist
wherever possible e.g. supplying keys for locked areas etc. if possible.
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Evacuation of the building
It is important to ensure that everyone leaves the main building by the
nearest exit, closing doors and windows behind them as they go. All staff
and visitors should proceed immediately to the designated Assembly Point.
In the event of a real fire it is important that people should not panic or run!
Visitors
Staff in charge of an individual or group should ensure that all visitors are
made aware of the evacuation procedure, what the alarm sounds like and
where the Assembly Point is located.
Dogs
Staff should not evacuate training dogs from the building. If guide dog
owners are present then they should be escorted from the premises with their
guide dog unless taking the guide dog would endanger either individual. If
dogs are left in the building then the Person in Charge should report this to
the Fire Brigade.
General
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if possible, check externally for signs of smoke or flames – remember not to
get too close to windows etc. as these may shatter with the heat
Remember to close fire doors behind you
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