New guidance has been issued around accessibility and the Queen's lying in state. Concerns had been raised about long queues leading to Westminster Hall, where the monarch will remain until Monday, September 19.
Queues have stretched around London with the first mourners arriving 48 hours before the Queen's coffin arrived. And the government has warned anyone wishing to see the Queen could end up queuing overnight.
Wristbands have reportedly been handed out to mourners, meaning they can use toilets or get refreshments, without losing their space in the line. But campaigners had raised issues about accessibility.
James Taylor, Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope, told PlymouthLive: “Disabled people should be given the same opportunity as everyone else to pay their respects. Over many decades the Queen was patron to hundreds of charities and organisations and bestowed honours on hundreds of disabled people."
Now the government has issued the latest accessibility arrangements that are in place in Westminster Hall, and in the queue leading up to the landmark. The includes details about toilets and assistance dogs.
There will be an accessible queueing scheme for disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse people and people with long-term health conditions and mobility issues. This is alongside step-free access and British Sign Language interpreters.
Guidance on the gov.uk website says there will be arrangements and facilities signposted along the length of the route, as well as a separate accessible route for people who cannot stand for long periods of time, or have specific requirements. While assistance dogs will be permitted along the route and in Westminster Hall.
There will be information available in HTML-compatible formats for those using screenreaders, and British Sign Language interpreters. Transport for London (TfL) has also created routes from stations.
Portable and accessible portable toilets will be available throughout the queue route. While marshals and volunteers have been told where the nearest facilities are - including nearby changing places toilets in Victoria Station and Guy’s Hospital
The marshals will also monitoring the queue to identify mourners with accessibility needs. They will then be able to offer additional support.
Gov.uk states: "An accessible queue will be open to people who have specific accessibility requirements or who are unable to stand for long periods of time. The scheme will enable people with specific needs to be admitted in the next available entry slot for the Lying-in-State.
"Disabled people who need to join the separate, accessible queue, should travel to a kiosk located outside Tate Britain, where accessible facilities – including accessible toilets, a water point, and BSL interpreters – will be available. Capacity for each time slot will be capped.
"People can use the space in the Tate Britain which has seating, toilets and ‘quiet space’ areas while waiting for the next slot to open. We cannot guarantee everyone seeking a place in the accessible queue will be given access to the Lying-in-State because of overall capacity limits.
"The route from the kiosk to Westminster Hall is approximately 800 metres and is step-free for people with mobility needs. Accessible toilets will also be provided on the route from the Tate Britain to Westminster Hall in Victoria Park South. Changing places toilets are available within Westminster Palace. Trained marshals and volunteers will be on hand to provide support to people travelling to the Lying-in-State."
