SECTION 4 - VOLUMES AND FLOW
1 Sovereign's Entrance can hold 5 groups of 20
people at a maximum, in roped off assembly areas and 5 tours can
be dispatched within a 15-minute slot.
2 However the forecast volume of 2900 visitors
each full day [116 tours based on a rate of 20 groups each hour.]
was based on a longer opening day than was achieved. This forecast
did not allow for guides meal breaks or the closure of Westminster
Hall at 18.00 hrs.
3 Based on experience during the first week of
the soft opening it was felt that 20 groups each hour would make
it difficult to achieve the 5 objectives that were set out by
the Administration Committee. These were..
- A positive impression of Parliament is created
for all visitors.
- The work of PWD continues unimpeded.
- Visitor flows are controlled in order to avoid
undue peaks and troughs.
- Visitors are adequately managed from a safety
standpoint.
- The impacts of wear and tear on the fabric of
the building and its contents are minimised.
4 Following a meeting after the first week of
operation with all Departments involved, visitor capacity was
set at between 16 and 20 groups per hour yielding about 96 groups
each full day after allowing for some buffer zones to absorb slower
groups, wheelchairs and other delaying.
5 The optimum dispersal of groups along the Line
of Route is as follows:
Peers Lobby | 1
| Central Lobby | 2
|
Robing Room | 2
| Members Lobby | 1
|
Royal Gallery | 3
| No Lobby | 2
|
Princes Chamber | 1
| Commons Chamber | 2
|
Lords Chamber | 2
| St Stephens Hall | 1
|
Westminster Hall | 0
| Total | 18
|
6 The dispatch rate of 16 an hour enabled disruptions
to be absorbed.
This enabled integration with the Education Unit's
Autumn Visits Programme, although it is clear that punctuality
is very difficult to maintain due to the open forum sessions in
the Grand Committee Room that typically precede those school tours.
Larger buffer zones will be needed in any future opening programmes.
7 There were very few security incidents where
confiscation from personal luggage took place. There were no emergency
evacuations or fire alarms. Baby buggies did prove difficult to
handle and this particular problem will need to be addressed.
8 Improved guide utilisation and increased volumes
can be achieved with a small alteration to opening times. However
any significant increase in volumes would not be possible within
current parameters. The quality of the tours would deteriorate,
there would be damage to the fabric and security surveillance
would become very difficult.