Her Majesty The Queen: Somerset County Council update
Released On 14th Sep 2022
Funeral
The state funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth ll, will take place on Monday 19 September at Westminster Abbey at 11am.
It will be a day of National Mourning and a Bank Holiday. The service will be televised.
Whilst critical Somerset County Council services such as social care will continue, most buildings and services will be closed including County Hall reception, our contact centre, and all county libraries. Planned weddings are able to go ahead. SCC highway works except emergencies will be suspended. Schools and further education settings will be closed.
All 16 of Somerset’s recycling centres will also be closed, and there will be no waste collections on Monday 19 September. Collections will take a place a day later throughout the week.
Floral tributes
In Taunton, an area for floral tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth II has been set aside at Taunton Minster, St Mary Magdalene Church.
In Mendip, floral tributes can be placed on the grass area near the Shape Mendip campus, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet.
In Bridgwater, floral tributes can be placed in the coned off area in King Square.
South Somerset District Council has established a designated area for floral tributes at Yeovil Country Park, which is signposted upon arrival. Parking will be free in the nearby Goldenstones Car Park during the period of national mourning.
We ask members of the public to please be mindful of the environment and remove wrapping or choose biodegradable items.
In line with national protocol, the areas for floral tributes will remain open until the end of the day on Tuesday, the day after the funeral. Following this all tributes will be removed.
Books of Condolence
Books of Condolence have been opened at Council offices including the Somerset County Council offices at County Hall in Taunton.
Somerset West and Taunton Council have Books of Condolence at offices in Deane House, Taunton, and West Somerset House, Williton.
In Mendip, a Book of Condolence is available in the reception area of the council offices at Shape Mendip.
In Sedgemoor, a Book of Condolence is available in the reception area at Bridgwater House.
In South Somerset, a Book of Condolence is available for the public at the South Somerset District Council’s Customer Connect office, Petters Way, Yeovil. For anyone wishing to submit a tribute via post, we invite you to send these to The Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, BA20 2HT.
Books of Condolence have also been opened at all Somerset Libraries. You can view your local library’s opening hours online here: Our libraries (somerset.gov.uk)
All Books of Condolence will be closed at the end of the day on Tuesday, the day after the funeral. Physical books will then be archived at Somerset Heritage Centre.
Buckingham Palace also has an official Book of Condolence for people to leave tributes online.
National Moment of Reflection:
A National Moment of Reflection is being held at 8pm on Sunday 18 September.
Across the UK, people who want to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen are encouraged to mark the occasion in their homes, on their doorsteps and with neighbours in their local communities by observing a one minute silence.
Local Proclamation:
The Local Proclamation for Somerset, the official local announcement of Her Majesty’s death and acknowledgement of the commencement of the King’s new reign, took place on Sunday 11 September in Taunton.
The Local Proclamation was read out by the High Sheriff of Somerset, Jennifer Duke, in front of the Market House in Taunton town centre.
You can watch the ceremony here: The Local Proclamation for Somerset 2022 The Local Proclamation which was held in South Somerset at Yeovil Country Park at 4pm on Sunday 11 September can be viewed here –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi1ejHXHNyA
Bereavement Support
We are aware that the death of Her Majesty the Queen may bring up feelings of personal loss, and we understand that TV and media coverage at the moment may feel overwhelming, as news and pictures may act as reminders of your own present or past grief and loss of loved ones and may cause emotions to resurface. There is a range of support available. You can find advice and information, including on how to talk about the death of the Queen to children, here: Support with your Mental Health – Healthy Somerset.
