Disabled Access a Priority for Vale Furnishers

Shrugging off concerns about the economic downturn, Vale Furnishers has spent nearly £500,000 adding a floor to its store in Ash Vale, Surrey. The extension creates an extra 4,000 square feet of showroom space for the rapidly expanding company. A movemanSKG platform lift provides an access route for less able customers and employees.

Established nearly fifty years ago, Vale Furnishers supplies products that make homes comfortable; everything from sofas, chairs, and tables to bookcases, beds, and desks. It even offers vinyl and wooden flooring, as well as soft furnishings like rugs, cushions and throws.

Disabled access is a top priority at Vale Furnishers. Director Mark Chandler explains; "There are over ten million less able adults in the UK, many of who shop at our store. So making the premises accessible to them is not just ethical, it makes good business sense. As a retailer, Vale Furnishers is also subject to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)."

People with mobility impairments reach the first floor of Vale Furnishers’ store using an existing passenger lift. From here, they can access the second floor via the two-stop Prestige, which has a platform big enough to accommodate a wheelchair user plus a carer.

Vale Furnishers’ Prestige lifts 400kg nearly three metres. It features fire doors, which resist intense heat for up to an hour, and user-friendly controls positioned at a convenient height for wheelchair users. The lift resides in a shallow pit to sit flush with the floor surface, eliminating the need for a ramp.

Mark continued; "We chose movemanSKG above other platform lift suppliers because it offered good value for money. Prestige gets regular use at our store and performs reliably. It incorporates a range of safety devices, including interlocks that prevent people opening the doors while the platform is in motion. I recommend Prestige highly!"