Welshpool puts plans in place for death of the Queen

Welshpool Town Council is putting plans in place to prepare for the death of the Queen.

The council has voted to take part in “Operation London Bridge” – a Government-led plan of what will happen in the days following the death of Queen Elizabeth 11 (pictured with then Mayor, the late Councillor Ann Holloway on a visit to Welshpool)..

Town Clerk Robert Robinson told Wednesday night’s meeting of the full council that the plan was originally devised in the 1960s and is regularly updated.

“It involves planning from government departments, the Church of England, Metropolitan Police Service, the British Armed Forces, media and Royal Parks of London,” he said in a report.

“Some key decisions relating to the plan were made by the Queen herself, although some can only be made by her successor after her death.”

Welshpool Town Council’s initial plan upon being notified of the Queen’s passing is to be:

i)             Both Union Jack and Welsh Flags at Town Hall to be at halfmast until the funeral has been held.

ii)            All flags at the Tourist Information Centre to be at half-mast until the funeral has been held.

iii)          All flags at the Memorial Gardens to be at half-mast until the funeral has been held.

iv)           Barriers to be created area around the Town Hall frontage for flowers from the public. This area to be well signed and a banner in place to be put on the wall of the Town Hall.

v)           A picture of the queen to be put on the easel outside the Town Hall in the area for flowers for the duration of the 12 days.

vi)           Flowers to be monitored watered as needed and dead ones removed tactfully.

vii)         Town Hall to be coloured in Red White and Blue for the period.

viii)       Book of condolence to be available in the Town Hall for people to sign and leave messages for the 12 day period.

ix)          The Day Centre to be open on the day of the funeral for clients to be part of the proceedings. The Town Clerk to be present.

x)           A beacon will be lit outside the Town Hall on the funeral day from the start of the funeral until the early evening.

xi)          The Red Bank beacon will be lit on the funeral day form the start of the funeral until the early evening.

xii)        The Mayor to make a statement to the press.