Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is encouraging residents to celebrate safely during the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort, which will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, 6 May 2023.
Although there will be no ceremonial events taking place in Windsor for the Coronation, thousands of visitors will be travelling to the town to join in the celebrations.
On Sunday, 7 May, up to 20,000 visitors are expected for a special ticket-only Coronation Concert, which will take place inside the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Local community events will also be taking place and are expected to have a higher turnout given the high-profile location of Windsor.
With large crowds expected, RBFRS is urging residents and visitors to be careful when planning celebrations to ensure a safe and happy event for everyone, particularly with large numbers of people anticipated to depart from Windsor late at night by rail and road on Sunday, 7 May.
Paul Bremble, Area Manager for RBFRS, said: “The Coronation is expected to attract thousands of residents and visitors to key locations in Windsor. We’re proud to be supporting this historic occasion and we are working closely with our partners to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to support a safe and enjoyable event.
“l would encourage anybody who is planning to celebrate the Coronation to read through our safety advice in advance, and also monitor safety and travel advice on social media throughout the weekend.”
There are several steps that residents, visitors and businesses can take to ensure they enjoy the Coronation safely.
On the day, if you’re planning to travel by car:
- Make sure you reduce your speed and give yourself time to react and always wear your seatbelt and make sure your passengers are wearing theirs.
- Never use your mobile phone when driving, pull over somewhere safe before using your device.
- Make sure you’re prepared for your journey and pack plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
- Check local TV, radio, social media and internet for traffic reports before travelling.
If you are going to be staying in a rented or hired accommodation:
- Ensure that there are working smoke alarms in the property.
- Keep all exits clear, even communal/ living areas and make sure that you keep fire doors closed.
- Establish where the fire exits and alarms are if you are staying in a large or high-level building.
- Make sure that you know your initial and secondary escape route, as well as where the keys for locks, doors and windows are kept.
If you are going to be having a number of guests staying with you:
- Make sure that you’ve got working smoke alarms on every level of your home.
- Talk through your escape plan, including what to do in the event of a fire with your guests and always keep door and window keys in the same place and make sure that everyone staying knows where they are.
- Ensure that if they have travelled by car, that they have parked in a suitable location.
If you’re going to be celebrating with friends and family:
- Make sure that if you’re having a barbecue, it is well away from sheds, fences, trees and shrubs and only use approved lighter fluid on cold coals. Make sure that you don’t take a barbecue indoors – as even when the flames aren’t visible, it can still give off carbon monoxide fumes, which can be deadly.
- If you see someone who has fallen in the water, never enter the water to try and save someone, even if you are a strong swimmer, call 999.
- If the weather is warm, don’t be tempted to swim in open water, such as rivers, lakes, canals and quarries to cool off.
If you’re a business that will be making the most of the celebrations:
- Review your fire risk assessment, especially if you are going to provide bed and breakfast accommodation.
- Do not overcrowd the premises.
- Ensure that fire exits are kept clear.
- Ensure that all fire safety provisions, such as fire extinguisher, emergency lighting and fire alarm systems have been tested, serviced and maintained.
- Inform your staff of emergency evacuation procedures and test it out in advance.
Further information is available at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s Celebrating the Coronation website pages, with further information being added in the run up to the events.