Royal Wedding street parties in decline and suggest a class divide

Hundreds of thousands of patriotic Britons will break out the bunting next week to celebrate the royal wedding – but official figures reveal a class divide among those hosting street parties.   

While middle class communities in the south east and the Home Counties have embraced the idea of hosting a traditional royal themed street party, the more working class areas including the industrial cities of the north have proved less than enthusiastic.

According to the Local Government Association (LGA) more than 5,500 communities have applied to close their roads off in order to host street parties.

London topped the national table with more than 800 applications, while Hertfordshire, Surrey and Kent all featured high up on the list with large numbers of celebrations taking place.

But in the working class heartlands such as Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield take up has been much less enthusiastic.

In Glasgow, which has a population of almost 600,000 not one application for a street party has been made.

Royal Wedding street parties - Are you going to one?

Reports are now suggesting there are as many as 5,000 street parties being organised to celebrate the Royal Wedding on the 29th April 2011. 

In Scotland, where the happy couple met, 12 parties are planned in Edinburgh, but in Glasgow the only celebration organised has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

Latest figures show seven road closures have been approved in Newcastle, 10 in Manchester, 15 in Liverpool and 16 in Birmingham.

There's a definite north-south divide. Fifty-three parties are planned in Bristol, 35 in Brighton, 30 in Cardiff, and around 500 in London.

But that's still far fewer than when Charles and Diana married. Some have blamed red tape and cost for a lack of 'street party spirit'. Last week the Prime Minister hit out at "petty bureaucracy" and urged people to celebrate, as he will be in Downing Street.

"Let me put it like this," he told the audience at a PM Direct event. "I am the Prime Minister and I am telling you if you want to have a street party, you go ahead and have one."

Royal Wedding street party cancelled after organisers told they need £5million liability insurance

A STREET party to celebrate the royal wedding has been cancelled after organisers were told they would have to take out £5million public liability insurance.
Hayley Mills and a group of friends were also given a 30-point health and safety checklist whey they contacted their council to find out how best to plan their own special day when Prince William marries Kate Middleton.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/11/royal-wedding-street-party-cancelled-after-organisers-told-they-need-5million-liability-insurance-115875-22980690/#ixzz1Gh0Z9NJL