Over 3,500 applications for Diamond Jubilee street parties so far

Three months before the Royal Wedding last year only a handful of road closure applications for street parties had been received by Town Halls. But they ended up with 5,500. The Diamond Jubilee, Saturday June 2 to Tuesday June 5, has already seen 3,500 applications. So it is likely that there will end up by many more parties even than last year.

But there is still the odd problem of bureaucratic obstructionism.

The following exchange took place in Parliament yesterday:

Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds) (Con): Residents of Westbury avenue in Bury St Edmunds want to hold a jubilee street party, but local council officers have told them that road signs will have to be erected in that very quiet suburban road at a cost of £396. Will the Secretary of State please assure me that he will do everything to slash such pointless pettifogging bureaucracy?

Mr Pickles: I can assure my hon. Friend that those regulations have gone. The bunting police have gone, and there is no need to put up expensive signs or do a traffic survey. Why to goodness cannot we simply get on with celebrating the Queen’s diamond jubilee and recognising that such roads can be closed with the minimum of disruption? Let us just enjoy the day.