Having safe and reliable access for the disabled is essential, particularly where there is a likelihood of either frequent or constant traffic from people in wheelchairs. Typically, one of the many access requirements encountered for those managing public buildings, like The National Trust. So when David Sloane, Premises Manager at Scotney Castle in Kent was tasked with finding a competitively priced, reliable supplier for an inclined step lift, like most of us he took to the internet.
As with many of the properties managed by The National Trust, Scotney Castle is a Grade 1 Listed Building requiring immense care and constant diligence to ensure its appearance is always to the highest standard. So when choosing a supplier it’s vital that the trust choose a company who appreciate the issues of working in a Grade 1 Listed Building and really understand the trust’s requirements before any commitments are made.
As a result of his internet research, David had ended up selecting three possible suppliers; a large national company, a regional general lift company and Niche Lifts. Costs and an experienced understanding of what was needed clinched the order for Niche Lifts. The location of the Niche Inclined Lift needed careful discussion and planning to ensure that nothing of the building’s fabric was altered in any way. This was to prove quite a challenge as the existing and very old stone paving had many levelling issues. After several conversations, a solution was proposed that addressed the levels issue and provided The National Trust with a product that at a later date could be removed without leaving any lasting effects to the building.
