Several ‘killjoy’ councils ban unauthorized picnics to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
North Somerset Council has banned locals from picnicking in the park with their neighbors unless they ask permission, complete a nine-page form and complete a risk assessment.
Similarly, Wiltshire, Ealing in London and Warwick District have banned barbecues over the upcoming bank holiday weekend.
The Local Government Association said councils simply want residents to be able to ‘safely enjoy celebrations’.
Several ‘killjoy’ councils have banned unauthorized picnics, barbecues or street parties to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla (pictured together in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace on April 4)
Some municipalities require locals to obtain permission, fill out a nine-page form and complete a risk assessment if they want to host a coronation party. Pictured: Residents of Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Drive enjoy a Jubilee street party in 2012
Having hit street parties with strict rules, nitpicking local authorities now say residents unable to party on the go should not even have an unauthorized picnic or barbecue over the May holiday weekend.
North Somerset Council said residents could not sit in a local park and eat sandwiches with their neighbors unless they asked permission.
Jobsworths said they would examine the applications and only allow a small number of “approved picnics” in the local government’s 500 acres of parkland.
The council also warned residents that it had banned barbecues and large gazebos and required a nine-page form and risk assessment to be completed.
North Somerset Council said: ‘We will be able to allow a small number of coronation picnics. Picnic requests must be submitted on the council’s website.
All applications are reviewed. Each event can be for up to 50 people. Permission will be granted where possible.
“Parks are for everyone’s enjoyment, so approved picnics should allow others to continue using the park. Barbecues are not allowed.’
Thousands of people will attend public celebrations over the May bank holiday weekend, celebrating King Charles’s official coronation at ‘Big Lunches’ across the country
Wiltshire council said neighbors whose roads were not suitable for street parties could not hold a coronation meeting in a park unless they first got permission from the council.
It said: ‘Permission for road closures will not be issued on any major road, bus route or emergency service route. We recommend considering open spaces and parks for community events.
“Anyone planning an event must submit the relevant application to the municipality for it to go ahead. For simple applications in parks, a quick turnaround time of two weeks is possible.’
Warwick District Council said residents couldn’t even picnic in a grass verge unless they consulted their neighbors to ask if they were in favour, then submitted application forms and obtained approval from the council. It also banned barbecues.
The local authority said: ‘If any festivities take place on the Warwick District Council green area, the consultation process must still take place and all required forms must be returned. We ask that there are no barbecues.’
Ealing Council, West London, said residents should register proposed coronation picnics and check that the council gave the go-ahead.
It said, “If you’re thinking about having a community picnic, email the events department to avoid clashing with anything already happening in the park.”
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chair of the culture council at the Local Government Association, which represents local authorities, said: ‘Councils want people to enjoy parties safely. It’s helpful to make sure requests allow enough time to address other people’s concerns and to manage the number of requests.”
The Levelling, Housing and Neighborhoods Service previously urged municipalities to use a ‘light touch’ approach and told residents to debunk myths about street parties. Pictured: Street party celebrations for the late Queen’s jubilee last year
The Leveling, Housing and Neighborhoods Service (DLUHC) previously urged municipalities to use a “light touch” approach and told residents to debunk myths about street parties.
The DLUHC also earlier this year encouraged residents to debunk the council’s ‘myths’ about street parties.
Municipalities don’t need to know every detail, the department said, and there shouldn’t be long and complicated road closure forms.
The ban on coronation parties comes after several councils were labeled ‘killjoys’ during last year’s jubilee for refusing to relax rules on public drinking and bunting, forcing then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to intervene.
