The Willis Museum currently has two stairlifts that allow our visitors with mobility challenges to access its first and second floors. In 2024, Hampshire County Council (HCC), which owns the building, undertook inspections at the museum, including a fire safety inspection. During these inspections, it was established that the existing stairlifts are not compliant with current fire evacuation procedures. In addition, the stairlift from the first to the second floor presented significant health and safety concerns. After an extensive review of the issues and concerns arising from these inspections, it was clear that neither device could safely or effectively meet the needs of our visitors.
As such, both stairlifts will be taken out of service in early 2025 and they will not be replaced.
We are very aware that the removal of the stairlifts limits accessibility for our visitors to the upper floors of the museum, and unfortunately the building’s design does present us with significant challenges in making it fully accessible. We are, however, actively looking at ways that we can mitigate the impact of the removal of the stairlifts on our visitors. Going forward we will run as many of our events as possible in the Sainsbury Gallery on the ground floor. We are also investigating how we can make some of our events available to be livestreamed and/or recorded and how we can provide digital versions of the displays on the upper floors which can be made available on our website and social media.
The removal of the stairlifts does regrettably mean that our toilets, which are situated on the first floor, will no longer be accessible for those of our visitors with mobility challenges. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this will cause, but many of our neighbouring businesses are very happy for you to use their facilities where they have suitable ground floor toilets.
At Hampshire Cultural Trust, we strive to make our venues as inclusive and accessible as possible, however, in this instance the health and safety of our visitors is our major concern and have to take precedence. We would like to thank you for your understanding and for your continued support for the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery.