Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

If you are planning on organising a street party, and want to close your road, you will need to apply for a Temporary Road Closure from Central Bedfordshire Council. They are encouraging residents to apply now for street parties to celebrate the King’s coronation.

Anyone wanting to close a road for a street party will need to apply to them at streetworks@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk by 20^th March 2023, using the TTRO application form and send with a clearly marked map showing exact extents of the closure.

Recognising the social and community benefits of celebrating this historic event, Central Bedfordshire Council have decided to waive the usual road closure fees in hope of encouraging as many people as possible to take up the opportunity to celebrate this momentous occasion.

There are differences for each street party depending on the size. The basic rule is that they’re not disruptive, they’re small scale and they’re free to attend.

Here are some specific conditions:

• Emergency service vehicles always need access.
• Disabled drivers must be able to access disabled parking bays.
• You’ll need to speak to residents who will be affected by the road closure to make sure they haven’t got any objections.
• You can only apply to close the same section of road once a year.
• Road closures will only be effective when signs are in place.
• All rubbish must be cleared up.
• You can’t damage the road surface.
• Signs need to be clearly visible to all road users.
• If you want to sell alcohol or food, you need authorisation from your local authority.
• You can’t charge people to attend the event.
• Music shouldn’t disrupt local residents.
• If the street party is to be held on a bus route then they may incur a charge.
• The event can’t be publicised, advertised or opened to the wider public.

The Government and Street Party website also have plenty of advice and free information packs on how to organise an official Coronation street party.

Thank you to Leighton Buzzard District Archaeological and Historical Society for the photo’s below of previous Royal celebrations within the town.

Photo one is a picture of the High Street taken on August 9, 1902 when the town was jointly celebrating the coronation of Edward VII and the end of the Boer War in South Africa. This picture is provided by Keith Burchell from the Anderson collection, photographers, formerly of the High Street. The picture shows the metal hitching posts to which the cattle used to be tied on market days were made use of on this occasion to anchor evergreen boughs and between them were looped festoons. The soldiers were marching home again and the Beds Imperial Yeomanry were on parade leading a tableaux of the Kings and Queens of England.

Photo two is George V’s coronation,  taken on June 22, 1911 in Church Square. Note the Leighton firemen in their lovely uniforms and, the boaters and the gents wearing sashes. Photo credit Keith Burchell.

Photo three is a lovely picture of the Old Fire Station as decorated in 1953. This was donated to Leighton Buzzard Archaeological and Historical Society by Maggie Stannard who wrote a history of the Old Town Hall.