Our aim
The standard we work towards
We aim for this website to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at level AA. These guidelines describe how to make web content perceivable, operable and understandable, and compatible with assistive technology, for people with a wide range of needs, including people who use screen readers, magnification, speech control or keyboards in place of a mouse.
This is a target and not a certificate. New pages and new content can introduce problems, so we treat this statement as a description of our current position, and we revisit the site when we add or change anything significant.
The pages are written in plain language, with short paragraphs and headings that say what follows, because clear writing is part of accessibility too. Technical roofing terms are explained when they first appear.
What the site does
Features built in
- A skip link at the top of each page lets keyboard users jump past the menu to the main content.
- The navigation menu works with a keyboard, closes with the Escape key and tells assistive technology whether a submenu is open.
- Colour contrast between text and its background is checked, and the navy, grey and white scheme was chosen with that in mind.
- Pages use headings in a logical order, and links say where they go.
- Text can be enlarged in the browser, and the layout adjusts for narrow phone screens.
- Movement on the page respects the reduced motion setting on your device.
- Images that carry meaning have a text description, and decorative images are marked so that screen readers pass over them.
- Phone numbers, the email address and WhatsApp are all on each page, so you can choose the way that suits you.
Testing
How we check
We run automated accessibility checks on each type of page at desktop and phone widths, including the open menu, and fix what they find. Automated tools catch many faults but not all of them, so some problems, especially in how a page reads aloud or how focus moves, may remain until someone reports them.
Known limits
Where the site may fall short
The enquiry form is supplied by a third-party service and loads inside the page. Because we do not control its code, it may not meet the same standard as the rest of the site. If you find it difficult to use, you do not need to use it: you can phone, email or message us instead, and we will take the same details that way.
The area maps are visual. Every town they show also has its own page, with the council, the distance and the direction in text, and the map is not needed to understand any of it. The street map loads only when you press its button.
Other ways to reach us
If something does not work for you
You can ask for any information on this site in a different form, or tell us about a barrier, using the email address or phone number at the foot of this page. WhatsApp is another option if you find written messages easier than calls. Tell us the page, what you were trying to do and what got in the way, and which assistive technology you use if you are happy to say.
We take reports seriously and use them to improve the site. If you are not happy with how we respond, our complaints procedure explains what happens next.