29 Summer Street Parties in Reading This Year

TWENTY NINE communities across Reading will be getting into the street party spirit this summer after taking advantage of the Council again waiving the usual road closure fees.

Community street parties will be spread across three separate weekends this summer and across 29 different locations. The celebrations are the ‘Big Lunch’ on the weekend of Saturday 1st/Sunday 2nd June, The Great Get Together on Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd June and Reading Summer Street Party Weekend on Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th July. Two additional dates have also been agreed. Every community application submitted this year was again approved by Reading Borough Council. Organisers have now been notified, so they can get on with their party planning. The Big Lunch is held every year to encourage as many people as possible to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun. The Great Get Together is a chance for communities up and down the country to get together to celebrate kindness, respect and all we have in common. It was inspired by MP Jo Cox who was killed in June 2016. The Reading Summer Street Party Weekend is an extra opportunity for local communities and neighbours to spend some time together.

Councillor Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:

“For a number of years now communities across Reading have responded positively to the Council’s invitation to host street parties in their communities and this year is no different. “People live such busy lives and it is not often we have the opportunity to get to know people living in our street. Let’s hope for good weather for all 29 street parties across Reading and my congratulations to each and every organiser for their efforts and for getting into the party spirit.” The communities hosting street parties and the dates on which they are being held are:

June 1:

Darrell Road (11am-9pm); Prince of Wales Avenue (3pm-6pm)

June 2:

Allcroft Road (midday- 5pm); Morecambe Avenue (midday-8pm); Oakley Road (10am-8pm); Fawley Road (1pm-7pm)

June 8:

Waverley Road (additional date,midday-9pm)

June 22:

The Ridgeway (1pm-10pm); Warwick Road (midday-6pm); Downshire Square (5.30pm-9pm); Auckland Road (8am-8pm); Russet Glade (11.30am-10pm)

June 23:

St Andrew’s Road (9.30am-7pm); Hamilton Road (10am-6pm); College Road (11am-5pm); Stockton Road (1pm-8pm); Recreation Road (10am-6pm); Mill Green (footpath only 10am-9pm)

June 30:

Carnarvon Road (additional date, 9am-9pm)

July 6:

Thicket Road (3pm-11.30pm); Coventry Road (11am-4pm); Newport Road (10am-8pm); Mayfield Drive (midday-6pm); Wantage Road (10am-10pm); Melrose Avenue (1pm-8pm); Talfourd Avenue (midday-10pm)

July 7:

Fairfax Close (10am-6pm); Rosehill Park (10am-6pm); Baker Street (9am-6pm)

The street parties have been organised for neighbours living in the vicinity and are not intended for the wider population.

Notes to Editor Many of the street party organisers have said they are happy to be contacted by members of the media. Contact the Reading Borough Council Press Office for details. Details about the Big Lunch can be found at: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/thebiglunchhomepage Details about the Great Get Together can be found at: https://www.greatgettogether.org/