Queen's Jubilee: Street party rules you need to follow

Communities across the region will be celebrating the bank holiday with parties and fun-filled events for all ages.

Councils across England have received “a huge number” of applications from residents eager to celebrate the monarch’s 70-year milestone, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).

Many councils have also waived administration fees for road closures.

Yet despite the festivities, councils have urged residents to follow the rules to avoid any fines.

This includes not charging entry for the event, sell alcohol or disrupt residents among other strict criteria. Celebratory bunting is encouraged, but party hosts must follow the council’s guidance or they face a visit from the council.

Many councils have waived administration fees for road closures.

In County Durham, the local authority says all Platinum Jubilee street parties...

must:

• be organised for residents, neighbours and their guests only;
• be on a residential road (for example a cul-de-sac or where traffic is not able to access another road from the event road) where only residents traffic will be affected;
• ensure access is still possible by emergency service vehicles during the closure;
• ensure disabled drivers can still access disabled parking bays during the closure;
• provide the council and Durham Constabulary of the event’s organisers contact details who will be contactable before and be present during the day of the event; and
• end by 10pm on the day it is held.

must not:

• be publicised or advertised to the wider public;
• be on a road which needs to be used to access shops, businesses or premises accessed by the public;
• be on a road which provides access to a public car park (other than a residents’ only car park for the street being closed);
• involve any commercial activity within the road closure area;
• be on a bus route;
• charge for entry to the event;
• damage the road, footway and verge;
• involve the selling of alcohol; and
• disrupt local residents with music or other noise beyond 10pm.

The organiser(s) must:

• consult with those residents who will be affected by the road closure to confirm they have no objections to the street being closed;
• make sure all rubbish is cleared up at the end of the party;
• make sure that traffic signs are clearly visible to all road users approaching the road closure;
• indemnify the council against all third-party claims arising from the road closure and the use of the highway for the street party.

On bunting, the council said it “recognises that some communities may wish to hang bunting in the streets to bring colour to the celebrations.”

“The Council will welcome requests from communities who wish to include bunting as part of their celebration planning,” it added.

Bunting on display ahead of the Queen's jubilee celebrations. Picture: PA

The bunting must:

• Be lightweight;
• not be attached using any form of catenary wire;
• not be hung over the carriageway;
• have a minimum headroom clearance of 2.5m over the footpath;
• be removed immediately after the event.

Darlington Council has also provided some insight into showing the national celebrations, which are being shown by the BBC.

“The BBC has agreed a special dispensation that will allow those arranging special events in town halls, community centres and streets across Britain, where TV is not usually watched, to screen the live programmes throughout the weekend without needing to purchase a TV licence,” a council statement read.

“This is a one-off dispensation for the Jubilee weekend only. Normally, by law, if live television or BBC iPlayer is viewed on any premises, they must be covered by a valid TV licence.”

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