No-one really likes the traffic restrictions which have been imposed on parts of London as it hosts the 2012 Olympic Games.
As well as streets being closed for certain individual events which take place on the roads – such as the 20km walk and the marathon – parts of the road network have also been cordoned off to create special “games lanes” for the duration of the tournament, which can be used only by athletes, journalists and other members of the so-called “Olympic family”. Anyone who uses them illegally risks being given a £130 fine.
This has caused a logistical headache for London-based funeral directors – particularly in the East End of London where most of the events are taking place, who have had to warn their customers that funeral processions may be significantly delayed by heavier than usual traffic in the remaining lanes which are still open to everyone.
Olympic funeral delays
Funerals featuring horse-drawn hearses are particularly common in the East End, following the traditions of elaborate Victorian funerals. This means East End funeral directors have had to pay special attention to the Olympic Route Network, with its road closures and sudden traffic light changes.
At least there has been some official recognition of this problem – Transport for London is providing special advice for funeral directors during the games about any transport changes which are likely to affect them.
Islamic funeral directors have experienced particular problems. Parts of the East End – particularly the borough of Tower Hamlets, home to the world-famous Brick Lane – have large Muslim communities. The Islamic faith usually requires someone who’s died to be buried as quickly as possible, with Muslim funerals sometimes taking place on the day of the death itself.
This means the timings of Muslim funerals are often very delicately worked out, with any significant delays potentially causing chaos. It’s not uncommon for multiple burial services to take place at the same time, so even slight delays could put multiple funerals out of schedule.
With all the extra traffic disruptions they have to plan ahead for, it seems likely that London’s funeral directors will breathe a sigh of relief when the London 2012 games come to an end.
Olympic funeral disruption: what people say
“If we went down the Olympic lanes in a horse-drawn, what are they going to do – photograph a horse? Fingerprinting?… Perhaps we can advise people in Newham and Tower Hamlets not to die while the Olympics is on.” – East London funeral director John Cribb, of T. Cribb and Sons, expresses his frustration with the Olympic travel arrangements
“We have been liaising with LOCOG because clearly funerals and deaths will continue throughout the Olympic Games – that is the one certainty,.” – John Weir, spokesman for the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors
To read more about how the London 2012 Olympic Games is disrupting funeral plans around the capital, visit this article from Reuters UK.
