Kent's "can do" approach means that more Royal Wedding street parties will be held in the county than any other local authority in the country...

“Can Do” Kent gets the party going

Kent’s “can do” approach means that more Royal Wedding street parties will be held in the county than any other local authority in the country.

Figures compiled in mid-March show 54 parties had been given the go-ahead in Kent, while second-placed Cambridgeshire had approved 32 parties. In fact, Kent residents will now host at least 60 parties to mark the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April – and this figure is set to rise as the closing date for applications is not until 15 April.

Bryan Sweetland, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, said there must be a common sense approach in the way things are done.

Kent County Council agreed to waive charges for street parties on quiet residential roads and cul-de-sacs. This allows people to organise a Royal Wedding celebration with neighbours in a traffic-free street, giving children the chance to play freely for a change.

Mr Sweetland said the county’s approach to applications had fuelled residents’ enthusiasm for community events to mark the big day.

Mr Sweetland said:

“We set out to make sure this process was as simple as possible, so that if residents wanted to enjoy the event with their neighbours, then they wouldn’t have to plough through piles of application forms.

“This just goes to prove what cutting through bureaucratic red tape can do. More and more, I would like to see our highways policy governed by three basic key tests, is it safe, is it legal, and is it affordable.

“In future, local communities will have a greater say in what happens locally and I hope that this has demonstrated what can be done in supporting the wishes of local communities. All of us at Kent County Council wish the Royal couple a very enjoyable wedding day.”

Organisers can request an application form online by clicking ‘Apply for a Royal Wedding street party road closure’ under the ‘Useful links’ section at http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport.aspx, or by calling 08458 247 800.