Road closures and street parties

Holding a street party

When organising a street party, consideration needs to be given to the formal road closure process, and as such residents need to complete and follow the process below in the form link. Failure to complete the application form, you will not be able to run a street party, more information on your guide to organising a street party.

Funding

Street parties don’t need to cost any money and could be as simple as neighbours producing a different dish to share.

National Lottery funding

Organisations can apply to  The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards For All   programme for grants to host events, activities and projects to commemorate the war.

Funding is available of up to £20,000 for events and activities through The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All programme and you can encourage community groups to apply.

The National Community Fund Lottery Awards for All does not have a deadline, but it can take up to 12 weeks from the point of application submission to receiving funding, which means applications for the special events should be made as soon as possible.

Central Government resources

Community celebrations are led by the  Together Coalition  , funded by the  Department for Culture, Media and Sport   and are part of the UK Government’s national programme to commemorate National events.

 

Difference between street parties and larger events

Street parties:

  • only for residents/neighbours
  • publicity only to residents
  • in a quiet residential road, for example a block of flats
  • self-organised
  • no formal risk assessment needed
  • self-organised
  • no licences normally necessary unless the sale of alcohol in involved

Other public events:

  • anyone can attend
  • external publicity (such as online or posters)
  • in buildings, parks etc
  • professional or skilled organisers
  • insurance needed
  • risk assessment common
  • licence usually needed

 

Things to consider

Please see below list of things to consider on the street, please note this isn’t everything and other things might need to be considered

Insurance cover

We strongly recommend that you purchase public liability insurance cover for a small residential street party. For further advice visit the  Street Party Site  . The costs can always be split between residents, or you can ask for donations to cover the costs.

Castle Point Borough Council will not be held responsible for any damage to property, or injury to any person arising from or in connection with the street party, or other events.

Risk assessments

In most cases you do not need a risk assessment for small street parties, however, we would encourage you to complete one as the event organiser with responsibility for attendees' safety. You may wish to think about how you can minimise risks and have a backup plan. For example:

  • what to do if there was extreme weather (for example hot, cold or wet)
  • use of reusable plastic plates and cups rather than glass
  • making sure an adult is in charge of the barbeque
  • slip, trip and fall hazards

 

Alcohol licences

Licences are only required if alcohol is sold.

At a private party, sharing drinks with your neighbours does not require a licence. If you did want to sell alcohol, you need a temporary events notice (TEN).

Find out more and apply for a TEN online.

Standard TEN deadline: 22 April 2025 & Late TEN deadline: 29 April 2025

 

Entertainment licence

You will not need an entertainment licence if:

  • your street party is private for residents only
  • the music is not advertised in advance to attract people (live or recorded)
  • you are not making money

If you are not sure, please visit our TEN page.

 

Permit for serving food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that one-off events such as street parties aren’t usually considered food businesses, so you do not need a permit. However, you must ensure that any food provided is safe to eat.

The FSA website provides more advice about  providing safe food at street parties and other community events  . The NHS website has practical tips on  how to prepare and cook food safely  .

 

Permissions for a tombola or raffle

You do not have to register a lottery (which includes raffles, sweepstakes and tombolas) if you are running an ‘incidental lottery’, but tickets can only be sold at the event and prizes cannot be rolled over from one event to another.

Anyone at the event (including children) can take part in this sort of lottery. No more than £100 can be deducted from the proceeds of the lottery to cover the expenses incurred in organising the lottery (for example ticket printing), and no more than £500 can be spent on prizes (not including donated prizes).

The Gambling Commission’s website has more information including:

Counter terrorism

If you are planning an event, please also consider reading the guidance below:

 
Cleaning up after the party

You will need to clean up after your street party.

Let people know in advance what time the street party will finish and have a section set aside for bin bags and recycling.

Take your rubbish and recycling home. If you have too much recycling to store at home, you can take it to one of our Household Recycling Centres.

Do not leave bin bags on the streets as this may attract foxes and vermin.

Application for a Road Closure

Please click on the link provided to submit a road closure application.

As part of the submission, you will require:

  • Site plan of the proposed closure
  • Any Public Liability Insurance
  • Details of any consultation conducted