Platinum Jubilee parties: ‘Killjoy’ councils maintain alcohol bans and warn about bunting

2.2k

View
comments

Killjoy councils have been accused of ‘ruining’ plans for Platinum Jubilee street parties by issuing warnings about ‘unauthorised’ bunting and refusing to lift public boozing bans.

While Britons have been hanging Union Jack flags in preparation for the momentous Royal occasion this week, council spoilsports have been busy throwing up their red tape.

In some areas, jobsworth local officials are urging residents not to hang up Jubilee bunting from telephone poles, saying they could create a ‘hazard’. 

In other areas, council officials have been accused of being party-poopers by failing to lift bylaws banning drinking in the streets – while fire chiefs are urging revellers to stick to the side of the roads rather than the middle.

But in what is perhaps the most egregious example of ‘health and safety gone mad’ ahead of the Jubilee, local authority leaders have told residents not to attach flags to metal lamp posts because they fear they could snap. 

It comes as ministers have today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.

Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.

An estimated 16,000 events celebrating the Queen’s 70th year on the throne have been given the green light with up to 15million people are expected to attend celebrations across the four-day bank holiday weekend. 

The Local Government Association (LGA) – which represents local authorities – said councils were ‘pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country’ and urged Britons to get their street party applications in ‘as soon as possible’.

Portsmouth City Council are among the authorities risking the wrath of Jubilee Party planners by banning bunting on lampposts.

Last week the jobsworth officials wrote to those organising street parties warning that hanging the lightweight string of flags on lampposts could be a ‘safety hazard’.

One resident, Albie Somerset, who is planning a street party in the southern port city, branded the warning ‘ludicrous’.

She told the Daily Star: ‘We filled out all the forms and jumped through all the hoops to get the road closure.

‘Now we’ve got a letter saying not to put bunting on telegraph poles. Are they not stable enough to hold some lightweight flags?’

The authority said in its letter that ‘no bunting is to be strung from telegraph poles’ during the Jubilee celebrations. It also said bunting must be at least 18ft (5.5metres) from the ground and of an ‘easily breakable nature’.

Similarly, in Bournemouth, bunting on lampposts is also banned for ‘safety reasons’.  Meanwhile, West Berkshire Council has gone one step further, by saying even its metal lamp posts are off limits. 

The authority – based in the Berkshire, the home of Windsor Castle – says flags, signs, banners and bunting must not be displayed from lampposts as they could be broken by the weight of a person on a stepladder resting against them to tie on items.

Jobsworth council staff have told the area’s 150,000 residents that authority bigwigs fear being sued if a person attaching decorations topples a post and causes an accident.

A local resident said: ‘It’s health and safety gone mad. And – despite the road being closed for our Jubilee celebration – we’ve even been told we’re not allowed to tie bunting across the road.’

West Berkshire Council issued street party guidelines to organisers which state: ‘No street party is allowed to attach any decorations to street lighting. Signs, banners and bunting must not be attached to lampposts.

‘This is as has been stated in our Jubilee pack on how to hold a street party from the start.’

The authority specifically urged people not to try and attach bunting to its metal street lights, saying they could snap if residents lean ladders against them.

A spokesperson said: ‘Our aluminium lighting columns are not designed to have the weight of a ladder and a human propped against them. We have no control over the type, size and material of decorations, nor method of erection.

‘We’ve waived the need for indemnity insurance, so any liability for a bunting-related incident, including its erection and taking down, would fall on the council.’

Meanwhile, Rochford District Council in Essex took its own firm stance, warning that recklessly arranged bunting could stop residents having their bins collected. 

A spokesman told the Telegraph: ‘Putting up bunting across some roads and attached to electric poles has the potential to cause damage to our dustcarts as well as other large vehicles, as it could get wrapped around parts of the vehicle and cause damage to the light poles and/or vehicles.’

While residents in Rochdale face a bunting ban, those in Glasgow face a street booze ban. The city’s authority said it was not lifting its usual ban on alcohol consumption in the streets.

The current city byelaw states: ‘Any person who consumes alcoholic liquor in a designated place or is found to be in possession of an open container containing alcohol in a designated place shall be guilty of an offence.’

Under the bylaw, anyone caught drinking in the street by the police faces a fixed penalty of £60. And the authority says it is unlikely to lift the rule. 

A Glasgow City Council spokesman told The Daily Record: ‘My understanding is that there has been no relaxation of the current by-laws in relation to outdoor drinking in public places.’

According to the paper, the authority is reportedly concerned following public disorder after 4,000 attended an unofficial party during the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Police and revellers clashed at the event, with a dozen police officer injured and 22 people being arrested. 

Meanwhile, fire chiefs have advised revellers not to hold impromptu parties in the middle of the street. In advice issued by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and echoed by other fire departments, they said: ‘We suggest that you set up tables along one side of the road and not the middle.’

It comes as ministers today urged local authorities to be ‘flexible’ about late applications for Platinum Jubilee street parties.

Culture minister Chris Philp appealed for town halls to ‘accommodate people’ amid fears millions could see their celebrations thwarted.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Philp said: ‘I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, and I would just say to local councils around the country, including mine in Croydon, if you do get a late application, and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to the councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people.

‘And if you are at all able to, you know, please do grant these requests, even if they are maybe technically after the deadline.’

Many councils have waived administration fees for road closures, of which there were 9,500 during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, the LGA said.

A snap poll of a dozen councils by the LGA showed they have approved more than 1,000 street parties. Extrapolated nationally, it could mean more than 16,000 Platinum Jubilee bashes.

But six weeks’ notice is usually required for a road closure, and there are concerns that many neighbourhoods have not applied far enough in advance. 

Tory MPs have been urging town halls to ‘clear the way’ for more events. 

Ministerial aide Richard Holden told the Telegraph: ‘The Platinum Jubilee marks a unique moment in our nation’s history, that families in cities, towns and villages across Britain are looking forward to joining together in celebrating. The idea that bolshie bureaucrats are tying people up in red tape to prevent these celebrations is contemptible.

‘Councils should clear the way to let these historic national celebrations go ahead so that friends and families can celebrate together this weekend.’

Fellow Conservative Johnny Mercer, a former Army captain, said: ‘These street parties should be allowed to go ahead. We shouldn’t let killjoys spoil the jubilee.’

Julian Knight, the Tory chairman of the culture select committee, said: ‘Councils have to be realistic about this and understand that this is a once-in-a lifetime celebration, something which will never be seen again and they need to be as flexible as possible.’

LGA chairman James Jamieson, said over the weekend: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country.

‘Whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events, councils are doing what they do best and bringing people together in innovative ways to mark this important milestone.

‘After two tough years at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, we hope that this time will allow people to raise a toast and celebrate with their loved ones and neighbours’.

Commemorative tree planting is under way in some areas as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, and libraries are gearing up for the Big Jubilee Read campaign celebrating books by authors from across the Commonwealth published during her seven decades as sovereign.

Councils including Wyre Forest, Gedling and Surrey Heath are hosting jubilee events such as beacon lighting, picnics and tea parties.

Hertfordshire County Council has received a record 475 street party applications while the London Borough of Waltham Forest has approved over 100 events and is putting on a mile-long street party.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities said: ‘If you can’t or don’t want to close your road, you could plan a simpler street meet at short notice.

‘This can keep the road open and be organised on private land, such as a driveway or front garden, without any requirement to fill in council forms. Residents should speak to their council about plans in any case.’

LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson, added: ‘Councils are pulling out all the stops to help their communities celebrate a historic day for our country, whether it be approving thousands of local road closures for free or putting on big community events of their own.

‘A huge number of applications for street parties have been received, and councils need to balance supporting as many residents as possible while ensuring events that do take place are set up and run safely.

‘With the day fast-approaching, anyone who has yet to submit their application should contact their council as soon as possible.’

Are you having issues with authorities while trying to set up your Platinum Jubilee party? Contact me: james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk 

How the nation will mark Queen’s 70 years on the throne this week: Days of joyous Jubilee celebrations will start with birthday parade and ending with historic pageant and 200,000 street parties… so how will YOU celebrate? 

By Mark Duell for MailOnline

People across the UK are preparing to mark the Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee over the four-day weekend from this Thursday, with a series of major events scheduled – from Trooping the Colour to a special Pageant.

Britons will also be able to celebrate the nation’s longest-reigning monarch with a series of outdoor parties on Sunday, while there will be a televised concert on the BBC from Buckingham Palace the day before.

The Queen is expected to delight crowds with a double appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony – at the start of celebrations after Trooping the Colour on Thursday, and after the Pageant parade finale on Sunday.

The monarch is also hoping to be able attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, with her wider family including –  it is expected – Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew.

The Queen, 96, is also set to spend time with the Sussexes, who are bringing their children Archie and Lilibet over from the US – and could meet Lili for the first time as she celebrates her first birthday on Saturday.

On Sunday, thousands of people will gather across the country as more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches and street parties are staged in celebration of the Queen’s record-breaking 70 year reign.

Here, MailOnline looks at the programme of events over the four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday: 

TODAY TO WEDNESDAY

No official celebrations planned, but hundreds of ongoing events are being held across the UK by museums, art galleries and hotels to mark the Jubilee – with a full list of 652 public events before Thursday available here.

The Tower of London’s Superbloom – 20 million seeds planted in the moat to create a spectacular meadow – opens from Wednesday until September and features a family-friendly slide for visitors to shoot down into the attraction. 

THURSDAY 

Trooping the Colour (from 10am, flypast at 1pm)

The official programme for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee begins with the Trooping the Colour military spectacle this Thursday, which is due to begin at around 10am at Buckingham Palace.

More than 1,500 officers and soldiers and 350 horses from the Household Division will stage the display on Horse Guards Parade in London, with the colour trooped by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards.

Some 400 musicians from 10 military bands and corps of drums will march amid pomp and pageantry.

The Royal Family will travel from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to the parade ground in carriages at about 10.30am, with the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal on horseback.

Plans are said to be in place either for the Queen briefly to inspect the troops on the parade ground or from the balcony with the Duke of Kent, or to only appear on the balcony with the royal family for a special flypast afterwards.

If the Queen does delegate her salute duties at Trooping to another family member, it will be the first time she has done so in her 70-year reign.

Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, William and the Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will be on the balcony for the flypast which is due to take place at about 1pm.

The Queen limited the numbers to working royals, meaning the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be there.

But her Cambridge great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and her two youngest grandchildren, the Wessexes’ children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, will be present.

A six-minute display by more than 70 aircraft will include the Red Arrows and the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Platinum Jubilee Beacons (from 9.25pm)

On Thursday evening, more than 3,000 beacons will be set ablaze across the UK and the Commonwealth in tribute to the Queen.

The network of flaming tributes will stretch throughout the country, with beacons at sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle and the Queen’s estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, and on top of the UK’s four highest peaks.

The first beacons will be lit in Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific, and the final one in the central American country of Belize.

The principal beacon outside the Palace – a 21-metre tall Tree of Trees sculpture for the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative – will be illuminated by a senior member of the royal family, and images will be projected on to the Palace.

FRIDAY 

Service of Thanksgiving (from 11am)

A traditional service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London from 11am on Friday.

There will be no ceremonial journey to the cathedral and the Queen, if she attends, will use a different entrance to aid her comfort rather than the steep main steps.

Wider members of the family are expected to be present including possibly Harry, Meghan and Andrew, and the service will be followed by a Guildhall reception for members of the royal family.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the service. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will give the sermon instead.

Justin Welby was diagnosed with mild pneumonia last Thursday and was continuing to work, but after developing symptoms over the weekend he tested for coronavirus.

SATURDAY 

Epsom Derby (from 4pm)

The Queen is no longer planning to attend the Epsom Derby during her Platinum Jubilee weekend. 

The 96-year-old monarch is said to want to pace herself during her milestone celebrations, with her daughter the Princess Royal representing her at the racecourse instead, The Sunday Times reported.

The Derby on Saturday June 4 was to be a personal highlight for the Queen during the four days of Jubilee festivities.

The head of state, a passionate horse owner and breeder, was due to be greeted on the course with a special guard of honour including up to 40 of her past and present jockeys.

But the newspaper revealed the monarch is now ‘increasingly unlikely’ to head to Epsom. However the Queen will still have a runner – Just Fine, in the penultimate race of the afternoon.

Lilibet’s birthday 

Saturday is also the first birthday of Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, amid speculation the youngster could spend the day with her namesake great-grandmother.

The Sussexes are flying over from the US with Lili, who has never met the Queen in person before, and her older brother Archie.

It could be the first time Harry and Meghan have been seen alongside the Windsor clan since Megxit and since they accused an unnamed senior royal of racism during their controversial Oprah Winfrey interview. 

Party At The Palace (from 7.30pm)

In the evening, the BBC’s Party at the Palace – set on three stages in front of Buckingham Palace – will entertain a live crowd of 22,000 people and a television audience of millions.

The line-up includes Diana Ross, Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers, Andrea Bocelli, Duran Duran, Bond composer Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra.

The show will also feature appearances from stars including Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry and Dame Julie Andrews.

Charles and William are preparing to deliver public tributes at the concert to the Queen, who will be watching on television from Windsor.

SUNDAY 

Big Jubilee Lunch

Millions of people are expected to sit down with their neighbours at street parties, picnics and barbecues, with more than 200,000 Big Jubilee Lunches being held across the UK on the Sunday afternoon,

Camilla, patron of the Big Lunch, will join Charles at a flagship feast at The Oval cricket ground in south London, while the Earl and Countess of Wessex will meet people creating the ‘Long Table’ down on The Long Walk leading up to Windsor Castle.

The celebration also coincides with this year’s Thank You Day –  originally set up to pay tribute to those who helped people through the pandemic.

Celebrities Ross Kemp, Gareth Southgate, Prue Leith and Ellie Simmonds have urged people to throw the biggest thank you party for the Queen.

The Platinum Pudding, Scotch eggs and fruit platters will feature on a six-metre felt creation by artist Lucy Sparrow which is to be viewed by Charles and Camilla at The Oval. It will be given pride of place in the Grand Entrance of Buckingham Palace later this year.

Members of the local community, 70 volunteers who have been recognised as Platinum Champions through the Royal Voluntary Service’s Platinum Champions Awards, celebrity ambassadors and various charity representatives will be among the guests at the cricket ground.

The royal couple will also present the Platinum Champions with certificates and pins, before cutting a Big Jubilee Lunch cake.

More than 600 international Big Jubilee Lunches are being planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – from Canada to Brazil, New Zealand to Japan and South Africa to Switzerland.

Edward and Sophie will join Berkshire residents for their special lunch on the Long Walk, not far from Windsor Castle.

The Long Walk is being reinvented to create ‘the Long Table’ in celebration of the jubilee. This royal pair are also set to meet groups of street performers.

Charles and Camilla will also celebrate with the residents of Albert Square in an EastEnders special. They will be seen attending a Big Lunch in a June 2 episode of the BBC soap.

The Big Lunch is an annual event aimed at celebrating community connections.

Jubilee Pageant (from 2.30pm)

The finale on June 5 is the Jubilee Pageant through the streets of London.

Set to be watched by up to a billion people across the globe, more than 10,000 people have been involved in staging the £15million procession.

Puppet corgis, a giant 3D wire bust of the Queen and the Gold State Coach are just some of the sights set to feature in the 3km parade.

Stars including Idris Elba, Sir Cliff Richard, Courtney Love and Slade’s Noddy Holder will take to open-top buses in a through-the-ages tribute to the culture and music of the seven decades of the Queen’s reign.

It is hoped the monarch will make a final appearance on the Palace balcony to round off the weekend to see a musical finale of Ed Sheeran singing the national anthem with a choir made up of nearly 200 celebrities.

** What are you doing to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee? Please email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk **