Street parties

If you are holding a gathering such as a street party on the public highway, you must apply to get permission from us. Be clear about the distinction between a street party and a public event. If you are going to publicise what you are doing to attract the general public then the implications are very different. If you aren’t sure if you require permission then seek advice from the events team by emailing events@basingstoke.gov.uk before you make any plans.

The Street Party guidance on this page will give you an idea of things you need to consider when planning a street party. Visit the Street Party site for more information.

Organisers will need to complete a risk assessment for the street party.

Apply for a street party

Organising a street party

Keeping residents happy

Talk to everybody in your street to find out if they want to hold a party:

• Send round some invitations and ask people to reply or knock on doors to talk to people face to face
• Ask neighbours if they want to have the party otherwise things might be difficult for you

Once you have agreed what you are going to do, when and where it is going to be and have permission to do so:

• Consider how you are going to promote it to those people you would like to attend (a flyer through the door or a poster may suffice)
• Make sure you put a contact telephone number and name along with all other relevant details on the flyer.
• Notify the police of your party and to arrange some form of first aid cover.
• Ensure any objections are resolved by the organiser.

Getting permission

Some very informal gatherings will not require any permission at all, such as a few people going to a local park or open space for a picnic together then that is casual use and does not require permission.

Parties in the street will require permission from the council and certainly any events that for example involve the erecting of structures and closing the road will certainly require permission. If you aren’t sure then seek advice from the events team before you make any plans.

To encourage street parties, the council has simplified its application form for organising street parties on its land. The application will give the council some basic information about what you are planning and the details of any roads you may need to close. If any further information is needed, either the events team or highways team will give you a call to discuss your plans. Once all the information is in place you will receive a letter of agreement granting permission for your party which will need to be signed by you and returned to the council by the due date before full permission is in place.

This letter will contain some terms and conditions that must be adhered to but the events team will already have explained these to you so there shouldn’t be anything unexpected. If you need to close the road, your road closure order will be sent to you shortly before your event.

Location of the street party

In many cases the street is the best place to bring communities together as it is on everybody’s doorstep but it depends on the nature of your street. If it is a cul-de-sac or quiet street with easy alternative routes then that is ideal but if it is a busy road, possibly with bus routes then it will be more difficult and you could consider alternatives such a local park or open green space.

Things to consider:

• How many people will be coming to the street party?
• Are there any community halls or green spaces that may be used?
• Are there any cost implications?

Planning for the party

Find a few people that are keen to help you out to make planning easier and more enjoyable. You could get the whole street to get together so you can find out what people actually want to happen at their party. The more they are engaged the more successful your party will be.

Organised activities

Think about activities that will:

• bring people together and encourage them to interact and get to know each other
• engage people of all ages and backgrounds as they are unlikely to all like the same thing
• get neighbours to deliver an activity of their own so they are making a contribution and helping reduce the workload

Ideas for activities:

• children’s games or a family quiz
• friendly competitions such as the best cake or guess the person in the baby photo
• run a raffle, bring and buy or tombola to raise a little money to pay for the party or be given to a good cause

Think about what sort of music you intend playing:

• background music could easily be provided by a CD player or speaker
• mobile discos are expensive but may be necessary, think carefully about how you are going to pay
• is there a group, band or musician, that live locally, who could be used

Food for the street party

Think about whether:

• people could bring and eat their own, or everybody could bring certain dishes or products that can be shared
• you could provide a barbecue and either cook food for people or invite them to cook their own
• there is somebody in your street that has catering experience and carries food hygiene certificates that can help
• people can bring there own crockery, glasses and cutlery or if you are going to provide this or hire from a local, shop, pub, restaurant

Whatever you do, you need to think about:

• how it can be done safely and consider the food that you are having and the impact that hot weather, for example, might have on keeping food fresh and edible
• special dietary requirements or allergies to ensure that they can be catered for

Decorating the street

Your street can be brought to life by the use of bunting, banners and fags, consider getting the community to make their own.

Think about where you will put them and how you will fasten them. It is very easy to fall off a ladder so consider a safe way of doing it. You don’t want people getting hurt.

Hampshire County Council is responsible for granting permission to hang bunting. To encourage street parties, the county council has removed the need to apply for a licence and obtain the necessary insurance as long as it is a small scale street party and that the road is closed. The county council does request that you complete a form online to give information on what you are doing.

Licencing requirements

If your event involves any licensable activities such as selling alcohol, putting on musical entertainment (live or recorded music), or selling hot food or drinks between 11pm and 5am you will need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).

Please contact Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Licensing Team by emailing licensing@basingstoke.gov.uk for more detailed information regarding licensing criteria and requirements.

Public Liability Insurance

Public Liability Insurance is not covered by the council but the council believes that you should have some public liability insurance cover just in case anything unthinkable happens at your party and somebody is seriously injured resulting in claims against you. This will come at a small cost to you and is available through many different insurers if you decide to take out a policy. Hampshire Highways may request the organiser to have Public Liability Insurance to close the road

If you plan on hiring in facilities such as caterers or bouncy castles, you will also need to send across copies of their Public and Product Liability Insurance and risk assessment to events@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Road closures

If you are closing the road then you will need to consider how to do that and what signage or barriers you will need. Guidance can be found on the street party website.

Do consider:

• If the road is a through road then you will also have to plan a diversion route and ensure it is signposted.
• If it is a bus route you will have to have agreed your plans with the bus operator to ensure that a suitable service can be maintained and communicated clearly.
• You must allow access for emergency services at all times.

Further information

Guidance for organising a street party (Streetparty.org.uk)
Guidance for Neighbours’ picnics on parks, playing fields and other green spaces (Streetparty.org.uk)
Guidance for organising a street party (GOV.UK)
Your guide to organising a street party (GOV.UK)
Find out more about Eden Project Communities The Big Lunch
Apply for a banner consent
Events on, or impacting the highway, traffic advice for street parties and other public events

Documents

Application form for temporary road or footpath closures to control traffic and crowds during a public non-profit event(PDF) [177 kb]

Application form for temporary road or footpath closures to control traffic and crowds during a public non-profit event(DOCX) [88 kb]