David Cameron tells councils 'don't interfere' with royal wedding street parties
The Prime Minister David Cameron has said today that people planning a Royal Wedding street party should be able to organise their celebrations without any red tape or legislation getting in the way and urged people to get planning.
It is estimated that 2 million people will take part in street parties across the country on 29 April, but many may have been put off by rules and regulations imposed by councils.
David Cameron said:
"The Royal Wedding is an exciting occasion for people across Britain to come together - and one great way of doing that is by setting up a street party.
"There are already around 4,000 street parties planned across Britain - and there's still time to organise many more. We'll be holding one in Downing Street and bringing together local people and charities.
"To those councils that are asking small groups of neighbours for licenses, insurance and other bureaucracy my message is clear: don't interfere, don't get in the way, and don't make problems where there are none. Let people get on and have fun.
"And my message to everyone who wants to have a street party is: I'm having one and I want you to go ahead and have one too."
The Government has taken action to withdraw central guidance and worked with charities, councils and local partners to make it easier for people to organise a street party or fete. Ministers have strongly encouraged councils to do their bit to support this national day of celebration and ensure everyone's energy goes into the fun part - not trawling through reams of paperwork.
Last August, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles tackled the reams of forms, high costs and red tape getting in the way of communities organising street parties and summer fetes. He issued new guidance and replaced the complicated bureaucracy of forms, permissions and risk assessments with a simple checklist which most local authorities are now using. He also called for a proportionate, common sense approach from councils for fun events.
