Middlesbrough town centre provides an inclusive environment for all local residents and visitors. Key elements including a pedestrianised shopping area with minimal changes in level and clearly displayed signage that can be viewed from multiple sight lines, offer a good level of accessibility for all.

The provision of seating throughout the central shopping area is good practice for people who need to rest whilst visiting the town centre.

Meeting Special Transport Needs

Getting to and from the centre is easy, with raised platforms at bus stops as well as real-time information providing live arrival times to facilitate journey planning.

The recent installation of a lift at the train station has provided easy access to both platforms, while improvement works are ongoing to upgrade the overall accessibility of the site. There is accessible car parking for Blue Badge holders in all the town centre car parks. In addition ‘Dementia Friendly’ spaces have been provided in the Hill Street Centre car park.

Thoughtful Provision

As might be expected from an accessible town centre, wheelchair accessible toilets are available in the

main shopping centres and the bus station, as well as in a number of shops, cafés and restaurants. An indication of Middlesbrough’s commitment to accessibility is the additional toilet at the bus station, which is approved by the Changing Places consortium and provides facilities for adults and children with complex needs.

Similarly, there is a quiet room, which has been designed to specifically meet the needs of people with dementia as well as those with autism or vulnerable people who need to take some time out to be away from people or a busy environment whilst visiting the town centre.

Many businesses within Middlesbrough have had awareness training to become ‘Dementia Friends’ as Middlesbrough strives to be a ‘Dementia Friendly’ town as designated by the Alzheimer’s Society. Shop mobility is also located in the cycle centre, offering support in the form of loans of scooters, manual wheelchairs and walkers to people accessing the town centre with mobility problems.