Neighbours Invited to Stage Royal Wedding, Big Lunch and Great Get Together Street Parties

READING COMMUNITIES are being invited to hold street parties on one of five weekends in the summer, without having to pay the usual road closure fees.

This year, Reading Borough Council is giving communities the opportunity to hold a street party as part of the national Big Lunch weekend, to celebrate this year’s Royal Wedding and to take part in the Great Get Together. The available weekends are 19th and 20th May, 2nd and 3rd June, 16th and 17th June, 23rd and 24th June or 30th June and 1st July 2018. The first weekend is the official Royal Wedding weekend, the second coincides with the official dates for this year’s Big Lunch, the third dates are for those who wanted to celebrate the Big Lunch outside of Ramadan and the fourth and fifth weekends are for those who want to get involved with this year’s Great Get Together. 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. To help celebrate the Big Lunch, the Royal Wedding weekend and the Great Get Together the Council will be waiving the usual road closure fee for any approved Street Party taking place over those weekends - so that residents can celebrate without any extra costs. To apply to hold a street party for the Big Lunch on any of the above dates, complete the form available at www.reading.gov.uk/streetparties Send completed forms via the post to Street Parties, Communications Department, Reading Borough Council, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU or by emailing them to lucy.daniels@reading.gov.uk The Council needs to know the date and time of the proposed party or event, the name of the road, or part of a road, that needs to be closed, and whether it is part of a bus route or used by through traffic. Permission will be granted subject to the road not being a main through route or a public transport route. The deadline for applications this year is 20 April 2018. For further ideas or help in planning your Street Party please visit the Big Lunch or Street Party official websites at www.edenprojectcommunities.com/thebiglunch and www.streetparty.org.uk

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

“People are often so busy it can be difficult to find time to catch up with friends and neighbours. “The annual Big Lunch is an ideal opportunity for communities to get-together and the Council is keen to promote that, as ever, by waiving the usual road closure fee. This year we will be extending that offer over five weekends to ensure residents can take part in celebrating the Big Lunch, the Royal Wedding, the Great Get Together and providing dates outside of Ramadan. “I hope residents will once again come together and hold some great street parties this summer - but REMEMBER the closing date for applications is 20th April.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Independent research carried out annually shows that: · 88% of Big Lunch organisers held a Big Lunch to encourage a sense of community · 47% of Big Lunch organisers report feeling less isolated as a result of their event · 91% felt their Big Lunch brought different generations together · 65% feel it reinforced relationships with people in their community · 90% met new people · 77% created new relationships they wish to continue · 74% feel a stronger sense of community