This accessibility statement applies to shereparishcouncil.gov.uk, run by Shere Parish Council.
The content on this website is designed for everyone to find, read, and understand. It is in the process of being made compatible with assistive technologies and developed to meet the accessibility standards outlined in this statement.
View the site your way
There are a number of customisation options for your browser and device that could help you use this website and other websites more effectively.
AbilityNet provide advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
Feedback and contact information
Please contact us if you have an accessibility query including:
- if you are experiencing issues with accessing information or using the website
- if you find an accessibility problem not listed on this statement
- if you have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made.
Alternative formats
If you need information in an alternative format, such as braille or a language other than English:
- Email: clerk@nullshereparishcouncil.gov.uk
- Call: 01483 203431.
An English-speaker will take details of what you need and arrange a translation or interpreting service for you. You may need an English-speaking friend or a family member to help you with this.
We may not be able to meet your requirements immediately, but we will try to provide an interpreter (or translation service) to help you as quickly as possible.
Complaints process
If you have reported a problem with our website or asked for an alternative format, but you are not happy with our response, you can contact clerk@nullshereparishcouncil.gov.uk to register your difficulty. This helps us improve our processes.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).
If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Shere Parish Council is committed to making this website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 AA standard, due in part to the non-compliances listed below.
Compliance roadmap & Covid-19
Shere Parish Council (as of Sept 2020) is reviewing whether the current website can be brought into line with the required accessibility guidelines or whether a redevelopment is a more cost effective and long term solution.
This process was planned to be completed by October 2020 but due to issues around Covid-19 has been delayed with an aim to be fully compliant by April 2021.
Non-accessible content
We are putting in place formal tests to asses the accessibility of key user journeys that represent the breadth of content across our website on a regular basis against WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
Some parts of the website may not work for everyone. Below are known issues that we either need to fix, cannot fix, or do not need to fix right now.
Website wide issues
Insufficient alt text
Some images contain text which cannot be read by assistive technology, such as screen readers.
Any relevant text is included in the image’s alt-text, which is visible to assistive technology.
Branded text such as logos, slogans or other marketing messages, may not be included in the alt-text if they are not relevant to what the image is conveying.
Images that do not contain sufficiently descriptive alt-text are not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.1.1, and WCAG guideline 1.3.3.
We will correct insufficient alt-text over time as we review each page.
Insufficient colour contrast
Some images contain text that does not meet minimum colour contrast requirements.
Images with insufficient colour contrast are not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.4.3.
We will correct the contrast on these images over time as we review each page.
Links indistinguishable from text
On some pages links may not be underlined and only identifiable by colour: Users with visual impairments cannot see these links.
This is not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.4.1.
We will correct these links over time as we review each page.
Cascading Style Sheets
When our website is viewed with CSS disabled, many pages have no usable layout of content. The search function is not accessible and embedded Google Maps cover existing content.
This function is not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.3.2, and WCAG guideline 2.4.4.
Image backgrounds
Images with text may be hard to see or understand, due to the colour contrast being affected when CSS is disabled.
Images with insufficient colour contrast are not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.4.3.
We will correct the contrast on these images over time as we review each page.
Content specific issues
Image sliders
You cannot use the ‘previous slide’ and ‘next slide’ controls on our image sliders using a keyboard, or pause automatic image scrolling. This is not compliant with WCAG guideline 2.2.2.
This is a compromise intended to improve the experience for visually impaired screen reader users, who would otherwise be presented with controls affecting decorative images, which can’t be accessed using a screen reader.
Search
The search functionality and results pages are non functional with many assistive technologies.
This is not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.3.2.
Overlapping and cropped text in tables
Tables may include overlapping or cropped text when viewed through a viewport width of 320 pixels or less: This affects smaller smartphones such as the iPhone SE.
This is not compliant with WCAG guideline 1.4.10.
We are investigating solutions for this.
Inaccessible documents
Documents are sometimes displayed as scanned or photographed PDFs and cannot be provided in an accessible format.
As part of our statutory duties, these documents must be available to the public, and transcriptions can be provided on request.
Disproportionate burden
Not applicable.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
This section covers issues that we do not need to fix right now. The law calls these exemptions.
Video
Video content embedded on our website may not meet accessibility standards: They may not feature subtitles, audio-description or offer a written transcript.
Any video added to our site after April 2021 will meet accessibility regulations.
We use YouTube and Vimeo to embed videos onto our webpages. We are not responsible for the accessibility of the YouTube or Vimeo platforms.
Maps
Our website uses online maps. Where there is a map, the information being displayed is provided in an alternative format on the same web page.
Third party content
Our website contains third-party content. We do not have control over and are not responsible for the accessibility of this content, but we endeavour to work with the third party to improve its accessibility. This may include:
- links to non Shere Parish Council websites
- content/functionality on our website
- content hosted on other websites, such as social media sites.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 9 Sept 2020.