A Street Party is a great way to meet your neighbours and build community spirit, it is a small community event in a small residential street.  It is a private residents’ event, run not for profit with no tickets sold, and the event should not be advertised other than to residents of the street or local community groups.  This would require a part of the street (the council will specify the appropriate location) to be closed to traffic during the event, which requires a legal process to be followed.

If you plan to sell food, alcohol, or charge for attendance, then other legislation applies, and you will need to apply for these separately.  If you hold a raffle on the day only, with any takings being used to fund the event or support a local charity, and the prize value is less than £500, then separate licences and gaming legislation in not thought to apply.

An alternative to a Street Party where you may not want, be able to, or have time to arrange a road closure is to hold a Street Meet. This is a more informal arrangement and can be held on a driveway, parking area, front garden or at the end of a cul-de-sac. You can also arrange a neighbour’s picnic in a local park or open space. You will not need formal permission for a Street Meet if there aren’t too many of you and you do not have music or a BBQ.

Road closures

A formal road closure for a Street Party is required on street where the event is being held for the duration of the event, plus some preparation and tidying up time.

A lead in time is required from application to the implementation of a road closure, to ensure it can be properly reviewed and the required legal process completed. The application will be accessed for suitability for the road (or section of road) to be closed, and consideration of any conflicts with other road closures or major road works diversions already approved for that date (which will be kept to a minimum). The Council will then need to prepare the legal  documentation and carry out the required advertisement of the closure, consider objections, and allow enough time to carry out additional on-street checks and advertise the closure on 
the Street Works Register. The Council may refuse the street party at any time up to the date of the event; this could be for reasons such as a high level of objection or emergency street works in or near the event area.

Not all roads are suitable for closure. Each application will be considered on its own merit, and several things will be considered as part of the application process.

• the street cannot be part of the main road network or have a bus route operating on it
• very high traffic or pedestrian disruption would be created
• nature of any objections to the event
• if an extensive diversion route would be required, or clashes with works in place or other street parties already planned
• the ability to maintain a route for emergency service vehicles

Public liability insurance

London Borough of Bexley do not insist on public liability insurance to hold a Street Party or Street meet, but it is recommended that you hold this insurance.

In case of any damage to public property or the highway the organisers will be held liable. Safety should be considered by all residents attending the street party. 

Traffic control for the road closure

The traffic control for the road closure, including all road signage/cones will be arranged by the Council through its own providers based on the extents and times of each event.

Access must always be provided for emergency vehicles during the road closure, with an unobstructed carriageway width of 4m to allow for these wider vehicles. Any bunting or overhead decoration must allow for 5m clearance to street level to ensure that emergency vehicles may pass unobstructed. 

Terms and Conditions

i) Responsibility for the event lies with the residents/organiser(s) and so you must pay to the Council the full costs of any damage to the highway or street furniture, or other loss or damage suffered by it and of any claims made against it as a result of the making of the Order and which arise from your negligence or (if you represent an organisation) the negligence of your organisation’s members or officers. 

ii) Any Traffic Regulation Order (Parking controls, one-ways, etc) or other statutory provision which is currently in force in the road(s) to be closed will remain in force during the closure unless specified to the contrary on the Legal Order. 

iii) Access by emergency services must be available at all times during the closure period, with an unobstructed carriageway width of 4m minimum, and 5m vertical clearance for overhanging decorations such as bunting. 

iv) Parking bay suspensions are not normally required but the Council does not undertake to clear the road of parked vehicles or obstructions prior to the closure taking effect and so you must make arrangements with the owners of affected parked vehicles for the moving of an adequate number of vehicles to enable the event to proceed, including ensuring the aforementioned unobstructed width. 

v) You agree to clean the street in order to return it to its condition prior to the closure and waste materials should not be dumped in the public highway. Waste may be disposed of through your normal waste collections. 

vi) You will supply contact details, date, and times for the event to all residents/businesses that would be affected by the Street Party and/or road closure at least 7 days in advance of the event.

vii) The three nominated event organisers must be contactable throughout the duration of the event. 

viii) You have considered the need for Public Liability Insurance. 

ix) If you intend to sell food, drink, or alcohol, sell tickets for attendance, or to provide entertainment, you will apply separately for a Temporary Event Notice from London Borough of Bexley.

Contact details

If you have any queries, please email engineeringservices@bexley.gov.uk or telephone 020 3045 4570 (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday).

Over the bank holiday weekend, should you have any queries, please contact the Council's switchboard on 020 8303 7777.