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According to a recent survey, more than 50 per cent of people don't know the names of anyone in their road or street, so holding a street party is a great way to get everyone talking to each other.
You'll need to start planning your party three or four months in advance so you've got plenty of time to invite everyone, contact your council for permission to close your road and liaise with the police, ambulance and fire services.
While public liability insurance isn't essential some councils will insist on it and you'll also need to apply for a Temporary Event Notice if you're planning any live music other than 'incidental' performances.
If all that seems a bit off-putting, it's really not as complicated as it sounds. Most local councils are happy to offer their support and you'll find the majority of people in your street will be only too pleased to help out in the build up to the big day.
The most important thing is to get everybody involved and enthused about holding a street party as early as possible. You'll need to go around every house in your street and invite everyone in person, then hold a series of informal meetings to decide what you all want to eat – a buffet is better than a formal sit down meal – and plan plenty of party games to bring everyone together. A guess-my-house-number is always a good ice-breaker while a game of skittles will appeal to both old and young alike.
You'll find plenty of information about hosting the perfect street party on the Streets Alive website – www.streetparty.org.uk – including a step-by-step guide and a regular email newsletter. Over the last seven years, the charitable group has helped organise hundreds of street parties across the UK and they're more than willing to help answer all your street party-related questions, no matter how trivial.
It's a marvellous website, packed with all sorts of help and advice, and I'd recommend getting in touch with them if you want to organise your own street party.
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Weather for Bakewell
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
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