Street Meet: a street party without closing your road

A street party really is best in a closed road as more people join in and it is great to have no traffic for the day. If you live in a cul-de-sac some councils waive the need for a formal road closure.

But for various reasons, you may not have time, be able to, or want to arrange a formal road closure with your council.

You may still be able to organise an informal Street Meet even at short notice, and at any time of the year for whatever reason.

With your neighbours pick a practical and safe area in the street to have a get-together:

• on a driveway, parking area, or front garden as it is on private land.
• or at the end of a cul-de-sac, wide pavement or grass verge.

The key thing is that the residents effected are happy with the arrangement with the area being used, access and parking etc, and that they understand that this is informal. This is crucial to avoid conflicts and bad relations.

Make sure children are safely away from any vehicles.

The event may be more basic and fewer people might come, but easier and still worth it.

Some Examples

On a green verge:

On a wide pavement:

As in the picture below, you could just move 2-3 cars and put bunting between the remaining cars, you will have a enough space for a basic get together. You must not obstruct other pedestrians or have people wandering into the road unsafely.

End of a cul de sac:

 

In a front garden:

 

On a shared green:

 

For a neighbours’ picnic in the local park you would not need to get formal permission from the council parks department if there are not too many of you, and that you do not have music or a BBQ.

These sort of informal arrangements and this advice page is supported by the Government here.

Sorry we can’t give advice on these – you have to sort the details out with your neighbours.