Applications from residents and Street Friends applying to hold a street party in support of the Big Lunch 2024 on 1 or 2 June are again being processed free of charge.
Applicants for street parties are being encouraged to apply in good time, to allow for the application to be processed and potential road closure orders to be issued. The closing date for applications is 4 March 2024.
Whilst party organisers always need the council’s permission to hold an event on the road or pavement, fees only normally apply if a road needs to be closed. The confirmation of road closure fees being waived in support the Big Lunch follow the pattern in previous years and also support the council’s Street Friends initiative.
Councillor Nicholas Bennett, Executive Councillor for Transport, Highways and Road Safety said, “I am pleased to confirm that the council is once again waiving all the administration and legal costs for road closures in connection with the Big Lunch weekend. We know that many residents have used this time as an occasion to get together and we are strongly supportive of this and the community spirit it generates, which supports our partnership work with Street Friends.”
Councillor Bennett continued, “If you are inspired to have a street party for the Big Lunch, why not also think about becoming a Street Friend? We are grateful to Street Friends and residents for reporting street problems they come across and together, we can achieve much. This is part of the reason, I am pleased to confirm that the council is once again waiving all the administration and legal costs for street parties for the Big Lunch weekend, one further plea, please get your application in time!”
By bulk processing the anticipated larger number of applications, efficiencies are made, enabling the potential associated road closures to be processed without the normal road closure fee, which is being waived in support of the Big Lunch on 1 to 2 June 2024.
Party organisers are not required to have public liability insurance cover for their event, but it is strongly recommended. However, they must ensure that certain conditions are met. These include having diversion and warning signs, with flashing lamps at each vehicle access point and being able to easily remove tables, chairs and other temporary objects to allow access for emergency vehicles. Similarly, banners and bunting hanging across the road must be secured at a height of at least 7 metres.
Once approved, the council will inform the emergency services, public utility and bus companies of the planned street party. Street party information and application forms are available or call 0300 303 8658.
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