READING Borough Council has announced that it is waiving the fees for residents hosting street parties this summer.
Communities across town have been invited by the council to hold parties as part of the Big Lunch Street Parties initiative taking place later this year.
While fees usually apply to those looking to close streets for parties, those hosting events in June and July will have those costs waived.
Applications to close roads which wouldn’t impact main through-routes or public transport routes will usually be given.
Applicants need to consult neighbours as well as ensuring that emergency services are able to access the road if necessary.
The Big Lunch initiative was started by the Eden Project in 2009 in an effort to get members of the public to have lunch with their neighbours and celebrate their communities.
It followed research which showed that isolation from friends and neighbours was increasing.
Councillor John Ennis, lead councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “The hosting of community street parties across the town is now well established in Reading, having been in operation for a number of years now.
“The Council is once again waiving the road closure fee which would ordinarily be charged, which will hopefully encourage as many neighbourhoods as possible to take part, including those who have not considered it before.
“The feedback we receive from communities who host a summer street party is overwhelmingly positive and it’s also a wonderful opportunity to get to know your neighbours better. Nobody can guarantee the weather, but knowing our residents they will make their parties a roaring success, come rain or shine.”
Residents can apply for road closures via: reading.gov.uk/streetparties.
Deadlines for applications close on Monday, April 29.
Picture: www.chrisboland.com/
