Movement Management Scores At Football Museum

Following the recent success of England's football team in qualifying for the 2002 World cup finals, the National Football Museum is expecting a significant increase in the number of visitors to the attraction. Officially opened in June of this year, it is fully accessible to wheelchair users and families with push chairs. Leicester-based Movement Management won the contract to supply a disabled access platform lift.

Mark Bushell, Marketing Manager at the National Football Museum, comments. " The Museum is designed with the best possible access for all visitors in mind. We needed a disabled access lift that was safe and reliable. Movement Management were able to satisfy both these criteria."

"A game of two halves" is how the new National Football Museum is being described. Based at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End Football Club, the museums first half takes a look back through the history of the beautiful game. One particular exhibit celebrates the last time that England won the World cup in 1966. The actual cross bar, a source of considerable controversy surrounding England's third goal, is housed within the museum. The second half is a themed hands-on exhibition, with many interactive displays, examining different facets of the game.

Particular attention has been given to the needs of the less able throughout the Museum. For example, the exhibitions are multi-sensory, with sound throughout and opportunities for handling objects. Access ramps have been incorporated to enable easy access for wheelchair users and families with push chairs between the Museums three levels. A Movement Management Companion Excel platform lift provides access to the Museums upper level, a viewing area for the Preston North End stadium. It is an alternative to a short flight of steps and has a lift height of 1150mm. Usually Movement Management would supply the Excel as a complete self-contained unit, comprising lifting platform and the enclosure. On this occasion, however, the access gate, hand rails and support structure, were installed by the building contractor. Movement Management simply supplied the lifting platform and operator controls. British Standard 6440, the code of practise covering powered lifting platforms for use by disabled persons, gives specific dimensions for the tolerances between the platform and the enclosure. Movement Management has considerable experience of these requirements and provided technical advice to ensure that the installation fully complied.

The Excel is one of Movement Managements most popular products. The lift operates via a three phase 415v supply and is suitable for applications with a travel height of up to two metres. It can carry an optimum load of 400kg, so can easily accommodate a wheelchair passenger and attendant. The Excel fully meets the requirements of all the relevant UK and European standards and design codes.