COMMUNITIES are being advised to contact the County Council as soon as possible for support and advice if they are planning street parties to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday this year.

In 2012 nearly 200 parties were held across the county to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – putting the county second only to Hertfordshire in its enthusiasm for such events.

Her Majesty celebrates her 90th birthday on April 21, but June is likely to be the busiest time for parties when she celebrates her official birthday with a three-day celebration, beginning on Friday June 10 and extending over the weekend.

The Council is anticipating an increase in the number of requests following the success of previous events and a handful of communities in Nottinghamshire have made contact already with the council’s highways teams to seek advice on holding 90th birthday street parties.

The authority is keen to build on the experience of previous years and celebrations.

Coun Kevin Greaves, chairman of the Council’s transport and highways committee, said: “We removed as much of the bureaucracy as possible for authorising street parties for previous events such as the Royal Wedding and the Diamond Jubilee and are again looking forward to helping people organise their street parties for the Queen’s birthday celebrations.

“People have a new-found taste for street celebrations and we expect there will be a lot of demand for organising street parties this summer.

“We are keen to work with communities to help them lay on their celebrations but we do advise people to get in touch as early as possible so we can help with the organisation of their particular event.”

Where locations are approved, the Council will provide organisers with required traffic signs for use on the day of the celebrations. Highways staff will deliver signs to a pre-arranged address and collect them after the event.

In more complex areas organisers may be required to provide additional signs. The Council aims to create ‘traffic free environments’ for approved parties, which effectively stops traffic from going into the designated area during a set time.

People can find out more by visiting the Notts County Council website at: http://site.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/travelling/roads/traffic-management/eventsonpublicroads

People can also call the highways area office (south area – Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Gedling) on 0115 9774702) or (north area – Ashfield, Mansfield, Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood) 01623 520739 for advice on organising their street party for the diamond jubilee.