Events on the Highways
Traffic advice for street parties and other public events
Well managed and safe events can bring significant benefit to local communities.
As the Traffic Authority for Hampshire we aim to minimise disruption to traffic and residents and maximise traffic safety.
Hampshire County Council is the Traffic Authority for most roads in Hampshire. The exceptions are:
- motorways and trunk roads (National Highways)
- roads in Southampton (Southampton City Council)
- roads in Portsmouth (Portsmouth City Council)
- Types of events
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Street parties and fetes:
- usually for residents/neighbours only (less than 500 people)
- only affect residents’ traffic. (No bus routes or through traffic affected)
- diversionary routes will not be necessary for any road closures
- publicity only to residents
- no licences necessary if music incidental and no selling is involved
- no liability insurance required for road closures
- no formal risk assessment needed
- self-organised
Major events:
- anyone can attend (or a large, residents only, gathering)
- affects through traffic (for example bus routes)
- road closures are likely to need diversionary routes
- it is publicised (for example in newspapers)
- licences are needed (for fireworks display, entertainment, alcohol sales, food provided late at night)
- liability insurance needed for road closures
- risk assessment and event/traffic plan usually required
- usually arranged by professional/skilled organisers
- Who to inform
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Let your local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) know about your plans. SAGs are usually co-ordinated by the district or borough council. Rather than event organisers speaking to many different organisations they will act as a single point of contact and will distribute event details to the various interested organisations (e.g. police, emergency services, environmental Health) on your behalf.
Road closures for street parties and civic events will be arranged by the district or borough using their own legal powers provided in the Town Police Clauses Act (TPCA 1847).
Road closures for sporting or leisure events will by arranged by the district or borough councils, or the County Council using legal powers provided by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Organisers of cycle races and time trials are legally required to alert the police.
Any signs attached to lamp columns require permission from the County Council street lighting contractor. They can be contacted on tpa@sse.com and are unlikely to reject any reasonable request but they will set sensible conditions for the purposes of safety and preventing damage to the column.
- Government guidance
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Your guide to organising a street party - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) - this guide provides practical advice for anyone looking to hold a street party.
Guidance for event signs – using temporary traffic signs for special events
- Major events – The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
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‘The Big Jubilee Lunch’ will be part of the official celebrations for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022. For more information visit The Big Lunch, Eden Project Communities.
You can visit the official Platinum Jubilee website for more information, including an interactive map which will display all the events and activities that will be taking place across the UK from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June 2022.
If you are interested in holding a Street Party to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year, please see information and guidance on the following Council web pages. More links will be added soon when available:
- Winchester City Council – Queens Jubilee Celebrations
- East Hampshire District Council - Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
- East Hampshire District Council - Organise Jubilee Event
- Havant Borough Council – Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
- Havant Borough Council – Organise Jubilee Event
- Gosport Borough Council – (Queen’s Jubilee) Street Parties
- Basingstoke & Deane Brough Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- Eastleigh Borough Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- Fareham Borough Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- New Forest District Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- Rushmoor Borough Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- Test Valley Borough Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
- Hart District Council – Organise Jubilee Event/Street Party
Please inform Hampshire County Council if you wish to erect cables, banners, decorative flags or decorative lights on/ over the public Highway for your event as a licence may be required. However any administrative fee will be waived for events relating to the Jubilee.
- Other information and advice
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If you are unsure whether you need a road closure, please contact Hampshire County Council Highways for advice. For example, you may only require a lane closure which could be managed by using temporary traffic signals. Hampshire County Council Highways Team can be contacted on 0300 555 1388 or email roads@hants.gov.uk.
The event organiser should also regularly check on the one.network website to identify any works that they might consider to have an impact on the event or traffic attending the event.
Cleaning up after street party or major event - it is your responsibility to leave the site in a clean and tidy condition. This includes any litter that may be blown beyond the site boundary. The organiser of the street/road closure will be charged if the council has to send extra cleaners to clean the street after your event.
- Bunting, banners and decorative flags
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You must also inform Hampshire County Council if you wish to erect cables, banners, decorative flags, or decorative lighting over the public highway for your event. A licence for these will be required, but this licence fee and requirement for Public Liability Insurance may be waived if the event is a small street parties or event of civic importance.
- Helpful documents and links
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All signs have to comply with The Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) legislation and must be set up in compliance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works, A Code of Practice – see the links below;
The Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) legislation
Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 8
Safety at Streetworks and Road Works, A Code of Practice
15min Obstruction Signs – Useful for very short ‘road closures’, e.g. for parades to cross roads
East Hampshire District Council SAG
New Forest District Council SAG
Rushmoor Borough Council SAG - email licensing@rushmoor.gov.uk or phone 01252282981
Information for event organisers (Southampton area)