Events on, or Impacting the Highway

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 [email protected] 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
General Highway Related Advice and Notes for Event Organisers
  • The event organiser should undertake a risk assessment for the event and act on any highway related safety risks that will need to be mitigated
  • In addition to highway safety risks the event organiser also needs to take action to minimise traffic disruption that could be caused by the event.
  • The event organiser should liaise with the emergency services, public transport operators, businesses, residents, and organisations that might be impacted by the event.
  • Routes for evacuation and access for emergency services should be identified and plans developed to protect such routes.
  • Where possible, event participants / audiences should be encouraged to make use of public transport or use sustainable forms of transport.
  • If road closures are required, the event organiser needs to consider suitable diversion routes for through traffic.
  • Traffic should be taken off of the highway and parked before tickets are taken. Under no circumstances should tickets be checked or sold at an entrance that abuts the public highway as this will lead to traffic congestion and could result in traffic accidents.
  • Use of wheel washes / road sweepers should be considered where there is a risk of mud being tracked out onto the public highway. The event organiser may also consider the use of matting where vehicles are to be parked on soft ground
  • Marshals must not direct traffic on the public highway, only a sign can do this. The exception would be marshals specifically trained under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) and empowered to direct vehicles by the police.
  • Signs must comply with the Traffic Signs, Regulations and General Direction legislation.
  • Signs must be set out in accordance with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works, A Code of Practice.
  • The County Council recommends that those involved in setting out signs are competent adults. Ideally those who have received training under the Sector 12D scheme or the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) Unit 10 (signing and guarding). They should also be wearing appropriate PPE, be fully briefed on the sign schedule and be aware of the risks involved.
  • Signs attached to street lighting must gain the consent from our street lighting contractor [email protected]
  • All signs on the public highway must be placed so as not to obstruct sight lines at junctions or obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
  • Signs on the public highway must be removed safely as soon as possible after the event has cleared the road, but no later than two working days after the event.
  • The event organiser should consider the use of advance warning signs to be set out one to two weeks before the event to advise passing traffic of potential delays. These will be yellow signs with black lettering.
  • Temporary traffic lights or ‘stop/go’ type traffic management may be useful under some circumstances. For example; to assist with the ingress or egress of traffic. Such forms of traffic control will require a licence from the County Council: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/licencesandpermits/temporarytrafficlights
  • The County Council will try to keep the area of the event, and key routes to and from the event, clear of planned works. However, we would still encourage event organisers to regularly check the one.network website to identify any works that they consider might have an impact on their event.
  • For non-profit, local community events, or charity events the County Council and / or District Council may waive the fees for road closure orders or licences.
  • The event organiser is advised to develop a traffic management plan that describes the risks identified and the measures taken to mitigate traffic safety risks and traffic disruption. The County Council may provide relevant traffic advice, but it cannot approve traffic management plans. The event organiser always remains responsible for the traffic management plan and the content.

Specific Street Party Guidance / Conditions Related to Highway Issues

  1. The party organiser must liaise with all residents and businesses on the street to be closed so they are fully aware of the event and what is expected of them.
  2. Emergency access to premises will be required during the party and contingency plans must be made to enable obstructions to emergency vehicles to be removed quickly.
  3. The road closure should be marshalled to enable essential vehicular access and egress - Marshalls and those people with responsibilities at the party need to be easily identifiable to others.
  4. The District Council will supply the party organiser with copies of the Traffic Order describing the road closure permitted. Unless otherwise directed these must be erected in a clearly visible location, at least 7 days in advance of the event at each end of the road to be closed. The party organiser should also erect simple notices giving the date and time of the road closure and the organiser’s contact details so the public can obtain further information. All of these notices must be removed once the party is over, and the road closure has been lifted.
  5. The party organiser will need to supply, erect, and maintain all the barriers and signs necessary to close the street safely and lawfully over the length of the road(s) described in the Traffic Order. As a minimum, Road Closed signs and conspicuous / appropriate barriers across the entry to the street will be required.
  6. The closure must be very clear to drivers. Signs placed on the highway will need to conform to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) and set out in accordance with the Safety at Street Works and Road Works, a Code of Practice.
  7. Pedestrian access through the street or to premises within the street must be maintained at all times including access for disabled people, prams, mobility scooters or any other non-vehicular pedestrian use.
  8. Where a closure is permitted in the hours of darkness, or after the streetlights are illuminated, reflective signs of an appropriate type must be used. The street must be closed for no longer than the period described in the Order and the closure should be removed as soon as practicable after the street has been cleared.
  9. It is important that people can get to sleep at a reasonable hour and the party does not become a nuisance. Where the road closure is permitted in the hours of darkness the party must finish at an appropriate time to allow the road to be cleared quietly and re-opened.
  10. All litter and rubbish must be cleared, and any soiling of the street or street furniture cleaned immediately on completion of the event and before the road is re-opened. Where cleaning, or repairs to the street or street furniture are considered necessary by the District or County Council to restore the street to its condition prior to the party, the works may be undertaken, and the costs may be recovered from the party organiser.
  11. Fires and fireworks are not permitted in the street, including on the footway or verge.
  12. The District and County Council accepts no liability for any claims or loss, damage, injury, or death arising from the event or the road closure. For most street parties, involving only friends and neighbours then the risks are extremely minimal and public liability insurance is not essential. However, for larger street events that are open to the public beyond the local community, public liability insurance may be a requirement of obtaining the road closure order. Further information on public liability insurance can be found here: -
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

Safety Advisory Groups (SAG) / Advice for hosting events: