Communities encouraged to host summer street parties
- The Council is inviting neighbours to hold street parties with no road closure fees charged
- A choice of four weekends offered to bring communities together for friendship, food and fun.
Neighbours are being encouraged to get-together and host a street party on a summer weekend with the support of the Council.
As part of the national Big Lunch initiative the Council is waiving the usual road closure fees on four weekends to enable communities to come together and enjoy friendship, food and fun.
The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual celebration of community and is taking place this year on the weekend of 5-8 June. However, the Council is increasing the opportunity for neighbours to host a street party by extending the offer of a ‘no charge’ road closure to four weekends. They are:
- 6-7 June
- 4-5 July
- 11-12 July
- 18-19 July
Neighbours wishing to host a street party on one of those weekends will need to apply for permission from the Council to close the road by Monday 20 April.
Approval will normally be given as long as the closure does not affect a main through-route or a public transport route.
Applicants will need to consult with their neighbours and take any concerns into account. They will also be responsible for ensuring emergency services can access a road if required on the day.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“This is a great opportunity for neighbours to get-together and spend some time catching up with each other and meeting new people.
“It can be difficult to keep in touch with your neighbours when everyone is so busy in their day-to-day lives, so this is a welcome opportunity to relax, share some food and enjoy some time together.
“The Council is happy to support this by waiving the fees that would normally be payable for arranging a road closure and giving residents the option of four weekends.
“I hope many neighbours take advantage of this opportunity and host some amazing street parties right across Reading this summer.”
To apply to close a road for a street party on one of the four weekends, please email the Council’s Events team at: events@reading.gov.uk by Monday 20 April.