Street Parties

With the Royal Wedding this April and the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics next year many communities may wish to hold a street party to celebrate one or more of these events.  Last year the residents of Gordon Road in Haywards Heath held a very successful  party as part of a national initiative.  I hope they will repeat their success again this year.

However such parties do need planning and proper arrangements to be put in place beforehand.  These will take between four to six weeks  to organise , so if you are thinking about a street party   on April 29^th for your road,  now is the time to start!

The following information comes from the WSCC website:-

Organising a street party

Street parties have been a traditional part of community life for many years, and offer a simple way for us to get together with our neighbours and to meet members of our local community.  

A street party is when groups of residents get together with their neighbours to organise a small, private party in their road. 

The county council wants to encourage and help make it easier for you to hold these sorts of local events.

This simple guide will help you get started and give you some advice on where to find out more.

Will I need insurance?

If you are planning to hold a street part you will require insurance. This is for your own peace of mind and can be purchased at very little cost.

For such an event, the County Council has agreed that the level of indemnity required is a minimum of £5 million rather than the previous level of £10 million.

Quotes for public liability insurance can start from as little as around £50. Why not split the cost between your neighbours or ask for donations?

Where can I find out about Public Liability Insurance?

A number of district and borough councils are able to arrange the necessary insurance for you, alternatively the Streets Alive website has details of how to obtain insurance along with ideas to help you plan your street party.

What about road closures?

Such an event will usually involve the closure of your road, even if the event is to be held in a cul-de-sac.  Where it is necessary to close your road, signs can be borrowed from the County Council and will be available for collection from your nearest Highway Area Office:

Northern Area Office, Worthing Road, Broadbridge Heath, RH12 3LZ.
email: highways.northern@westsussex.gov.uk
phone: 01243 642105

Where diversions are necessary to accommodate the movement of traffic, the County Council will assist by providing and positioning all diversion signs and barriers to make your road safe for your party. 

You will need to submit an application to your local district or borough council together with a plan showing the extent of the road closure and the alternative route for traffic. You will also need to carry out a simple risk assessment and show proof of your public liability insurance cover – see ‘who should I contact’ below.

When should I start planning?

Our number one tip for holding a party is to plan early, think about what you want to achieve and get in touch with your local district or borough council at least four to six weeks in advance.

Remember, if we know about your party, we can make sure it’s not disrupted by roadworks or inconveniently placed equipment that could spoil your fun.

Who should I contact?

You will need to make your request for a party to your local district or borough council. Details of how to get in touch with them can be found at:

Mid Sussex District Council
www.midsussex.gov.uk/roadclosures
phone: 01444 477305

What happens afterwards?

It’s worth thinking about cleaning up after your event, it’s your street and your party so let people know in advance what you are planning and set aside an area for bin bags and recycling.

The County Council want to ensure your street party is a fun and successful event, but please remember that this is a public road for you and your neighbours to safely get about, so please look after it.

Have fun and for your information Haywards Heath is the only town in the country not to have any ‘streets’ at all!