Road closures

This should be straightforward. While residents are writing probably 3 times to every house (and any business) in the street to be involved, you are also effectively consulting them about closing the road.

Residents will need to apply 3 to 12 weeks in advance for permission from the council traffic/highways department or Events team to close the road.

Councils vary a lot in what arrangements they require. If the council wants to charge you for a road closures or has too complex procedures ask Streets Alive for help. We give detailed guidance to councils on this and some have made changes to help residents.

We are working with the government to make closing roads easy for residents. Keep up to date with our news.

Residents or the council have to consult the fire, ambulance and police.

Think about alternative traffic routes. It is possible to close and move cars out from only part of a road.

The road closure notice from the council will need to be posted up in the street, by them or residents, in time for the event.

If you can't or don't want to close the road think about having a StreetMeet

Road Closure Signs

Please note that the ideas below are based on an interpretation of what the Government said to councils last summer here:
'Neither are specific signs or other traffic management equipment required. Local authorities should act proportionately, wisely, and in the public interest - and highways law do not present any barriers to that.'

Councils have a lot of different views about this.

If you are formally closing your road, residents need to give a very clear closure to drivers and will probably need to have some 'road closed' and perhaps other signs. Here are some suggestions:

1. Your council may lend proper metal ones to you or tell you where you can hire them. Or you may be able to buy them locally for about £50 each.

2. You could hire or buy them from companies like this one (in central/southern England) Suntraffic.com

3. You could buy PVC banners to use as signs in daylight only. Two full size banners can be bought for about £35 from Banner Hub - see advert opposite. Or you can download our artwork to send to other printers here: Road Closed banner or Road Ahead Closed banner.

4. Or you could make signs yourself by printing them from your computer onto paper, to use in daylight only. You can download signs here in PDF format with each download containing several A4 pages which can be printed out on a colour printer and stuck onto something.