Great news for anyone planning to hold a street party this year – Reading Borough Council has confirmed that it will waive its road closure fees for any weekend in September 2021. So if you are planning to hold a small street party and can arrange it for September you can close your road and it won’t cost you a penny!

A small street party means one held in only one or two streets and for neighbours only. You will need to consult with residents in the streets affected and get evidence such as signatures to show that the majority are happy with the street closure. Most streets can be closed, the chief exceptions being main roads and bus routes.

If your street is unsuitable for a party or you are unable to submit an application in time, there are plenty of other options. For example, there might be some communal space at the end of a cul-de-sac or off the road or a corner of a local park where you could hold a party.

Although Covid restrictions are mostly ending in July and August, please be aware that there will be neighbours that will have concerns about large gatherings, particularly those that are vulnerable to Covid. We advise planning your party to allow enough space tor social distancing, and it would be good practice to have hand sanitiser available and pay extra attention to hygiene if there are communal areas where people will gather such as around a barbecue.

Details and a road closure application form are are on the Reading Borough Council web site at www.reading.gov.uk/leisure/things-to-do/organising-an-event/street-parties-the-big-lunch.  But you will need to hurry – the deadline for street closure applications is 2 August.