Chapeltown Baths is a Sheffield swimming pool which recently celebrated its 50 year anniversary. The highlight of this was the installation of their new pool hoist and outdoor raised platform lift, supplied and fitted by Clark and Partners Ltd.

It’s easy to forget the issues some people have to face gaining access to areas such as swimming pools. Lack of access can mean disabled people end up missing out on a whole variety of leisure activities or entertainment.

Many local businesses, particularly entertainment venues and leisure or health facilities find that providing access to all of its patrons can be a real problem; with many buildings built in a time before disability access was a priority. The introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) has encouraged and enabled proprietors to make reasonable efforts to ensure access is available for all customers, and Chapeltown Swimming Baths have taken full advantage of this.

The outdoor lift fitted was a Terry Melody 2 Vertical Lift which will aid people to gain access to the main building and especially anyone in a wheelchair, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to gain access due to the steps outside.

The existing steps were excavated to make room for the lift and it sits to the left of the landing at the top of the steps with easy access from the car park.

On the inside the Oxford Dipper Pool Hoist was fitted beside the pool to enable and assist customers in gaining access getting into / out of the pool itself.

Staff, the committee and users at Chapeltown Baths have eagerly awaited the new changes and are excited at the prospect of having their very own hoist and lift.

As a local family company, Clark and Partners are no strangers to supplying and installing these products. Michael Clark is the Lead Specialist for Access Solutions at Clark and Partners and he designed and organised the installation. With the help of the installation team at Clark and Partners the fitting went to plan he said “We are delighted that both these products will go a long way in changing peoples life’s for the better, and at the same time give people the equal opportunity to participate in an extra hobby or sport.”