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

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

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

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

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 logo ‘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:

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.

Apply for a licence - select which licence you need to apply for

Other information and advice

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

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.

Apply for a licence - select which licence you need to apply for

Helpful documents and links

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

Basingstoke and Deane SAG

East Hampshire District Council SAG

Eastleigh Borough Council SAG

Fareham Borough Council SAG

Gosport Borough Council SAG

Hart District Council SAG

Havant Borough Council SAG

New Forest District Council SAG