Access & Travel

Travel and Parking

 

• Free parking is available in the Coalhouse Fort Park car park. Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, RM18 8PB. Please do not park on the street in the village. Do not block drives or access for others. 

• Please be aware that there is a level crossing on Princess Margaret road, that has goods trains passing through that can take up to 30 mins, as well as scheduled passenger trains - allow extra time for your journey so you don’t get stuck waiting!  

• The nearest station is East Tilbury, approx 45 mins walk from the Fort. 

• The Central Connect 375 bus stops at Coalhouse Fort. For timetable search here for 375: https://www.central-connect.co.uk/timetables/ 

• Additional parking is available further up Princess Margaret Road, next to the Bata War Memorial RM18 8NX, approx 30 minutes walk from the Fort. 

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Access information

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Accessibility is core to the plans for re-animation of the Fort, and we will be running level(ish) access activities as part of this commission, but please note that access to the Fort is currently limited for many activities. Unless an activity is designated as level(ish) access, there is no level access to the site. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any access questions.

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• Entrance to the Fort interior is through a small gate with a raised step. 

• We have a (heated) room to meet in. This is at the top of an uneven staircase, and there are other staircases on the tour, along with rough and uneven ground.  

• While there are no toilets in the Fort, there are toilets in the cafe just outside the gate, and all activity will take place while those toilets are open (10:00 - 15:15).

• There is an accessible toilet in the toilet block - full info on dimensions here: https://www.accessable.co.uk/thurrock-council/access-guides/coalhouse-fort-park (note this includes info about Fort opening times which no longer apply, and handrails which are no longer in place). There is no Changing Places toilet on site.

• The activity will take place outdoors and indoors, so please wear clothing and footwear/wheels appropriate for the weather and uneven ground.

• Photographs of the terrain can be found here.

• There is mould and dust in the Fort.

• There will be a brunch break. There is an excellent cafe by the gate, the Engine Tearoom. Please order in advance by using the information provided when booking. Menus here. You are also welcome to bring your own brunch, flask etc. 

• Please bring your own drinking water - there is no tap in the Fort.

• Please protect the lives of team, visitors and their families who are immune-suppressed, and the livelihoods of freelancers, and do not attend if you are knowingly infectious e.g. with a cold, covid, stomach bug. You might not feel too bad, but it could impact someone else much more seriously.

• Most activities will be delivered in English, and you are welcome to create in any language or combination. Exploring English as a second language is welcome in this space, as is creating in any tradition or style. All ways of speaking, creating, writing, communicating are welcome.   

• If you have access needs requiring access to power for charging devices etc, please get in touch before attending. There are no charging facilities on site, but we may be able to support if we know in advance.

• There is limited mobile phone coverage on site. 

 

Level(ish) Access Activities

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Activities designated as level(ish) are as near to level-access as we can get with the Fort in its current condition. Level Access, lifts and other access features are key to plans for re-animation. 

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• For these activities, the Fort main gates will be open, so there is wide access with no step. The ground is uneven on the threshold.

• Level-access matting is in place onto the parade ground, however this is in uneven condition, with some warping. The parade ground is rough ground.

• There is an accessible toilet in the toilet block - full info on dimensions here: https://www.accessable.co.uk/thurrock-council/access-guides/coalhouse-fort-park (note this includes info about Fort opening times which no longer apply) There is no Changing Places toilet on site.

• There is reasonably level access from the car park to the Fort, with good paths around Coalhouse Fort Park.​

• Photographs of the terrain can be found here​.

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If you have any questions, please contact Laura, using the information provided on booking, or the contact form below, allowing 48 hours to reply (I do not have internet onsite).