Please act responsibly at stay at home street parties

April 20, 2020

The council has issued advice on holding safe ‘stay at home’ street parties.

Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment and planning, says: “We are aware that a number of nationally and locally organised ‘Stay at Home street parties’ are being advertised on social media and other channels, primarily but not solely linked to the upcoming VE Day celebrations.

“Whilst we appreciate the importance of maintaining mental wellbeing at this time and can understand the desire to hold stay at home parties, we are concerned they could create health issues as we continue to fight this global pandemic.

“We are therefore urging residents to think carefully before organising or attending a stay at home street party, and if they decide to, we have issued thorough guidance on our website on holding a responsible stay at home street party, focussing on maintaining social distancing and encouraging respect and thought to all your neighbours.”

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, says: “As a nation we are still fighting this pandemic, and we all need to continue to work together to tackle the challenges we face.

“We are therefore asking anyone organising or ‘attending’ a stay at home party to please do so responsibly. Please consider your neighbours, please adhere to social distancing and please do not be tempted to mix with other households which could be dangerous and undo all the good work we have been doing as a community.”

The advice available on www.southend.gov.uk/stayathomestreetparty is as follows:

• Remember we are still fighting this pandemic and we are still in a ‘stay at home’ situation
• You must observe social distancing at all times. This means staying at least two metres away from anyone not in your household
• Those ‘attending’ stay at home street parties should stay within their front gardens
• Do not go into other front gardens, into the street or into other houses – even if you can stay two metres away from someone in the street or in their garden, this could encourage groups to congregate and make it impossible for social distancing to be observed
• Please consider those within your street that may be self-isolating and not able to partake. Seeing others celebrate could affect their mental health and wellbeing
• Please consider those within your street that may have lost a loved one due to COVID-19, or have a relative or friend that has had the virus – they may not wish to celebrate and this could create conflict with your neighbours. Please think about checking with other neighbours before organising and promoting an event
• Please keep noise to a minimum particularly before 9am and after 8pm
• Please keep dogs on a lead and under control
• Please keep children under control and ensure they stay within your property
• Please don’t let a good atmosphere and alcohol tempt you into breaking social distancing rules – as a country we are still fighting this pandemic

Please also note:

• Please do not place bunting that crosses the carriageway – this could present a danger to lorries or other high vehicles. It is fine for it to run parallel to the carriageway
• No applications for road closures will be approved for ‘street parties’ at this time