How long is (the paperwork for) a piece of string? Killjoy councils demand Jubilee parties have £5m in insurance liability and are on call 24/7... if they hang up bunting

Published 22nd Feb 2012

* Councils across Britain force Jubilee party
organisers into costly, expensive structural surveys
* The bunting must have liability insurance of £5m -
and in some cases, £10m
* Some councils demand someone is on call 24/7 in case
of problems
* Organisers say they are 'dragged through the mire'
and begin to lose the 'spirit of the event'



For most people celebrating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee 35 years ago, there was only one rule – enjoy yourself.

Today, it’s a different story, according to a mayor planning a series of parties for this year’s Diamond Jubilee.

Robert Needham, who also organised events in 1977, has claimed that a ‘mire of health and safety’ has prevented him from putting up bunting – that is, until he has completed a survey to ensure the flags are ‘structurally safe’.

However, he is not alone. Most councils demand that organisers - usually community-minded volunteers - take out liability insurance of £5m or even £10m and have someone on call 24 hours a day.

Mr Needham, 70, mayor of Wivenhoe, Essex, said: ‘I remember organising a street party in 1977 and back then you just got on and did it – there were no restrictions.

‘Then, by the time of the Golden Jubilee, I was involved with another street party and we had to get a street closure order, complete a risk assessment and get public liability insurance in place.

‘That was after 25 years of so-called progress, so I guess I should not be surprised at what we are faced with for the Diamond Jubilee.

‘We just took it for granted that we would be okay putting up bunting and didn’t give it any thought.

‘It is extra work we can do without. There is a lot of jumping through hoops that we will have to do in order to get the event to go ahead.

‘Applying to put up cloth and plastic bunting seems to me something we can well do without.

‘It’s very disappointing and does rather dampen the spirit of the event.’

Wivenhoe Town Council learned of the health and safety rules when it announced plans to hang the red, white and blue plastic flags along streets and in a playing field between May 26 and June 5.

However, killjoys from Essex County Council insisted assessments would have to be carried out first to make sure telegraph poles and fences were strong enough to support the weight of the paper-thin bunting.

Mr Needham said the celebrations would go ahead with or without the decorations.

A spokesman for Essex Council said that all district, borough, town and parish councils needed to apply for permission to put bunting or other decorations in public areas.

Officers will then assess if the locations are ‘structurally safe in terms of positioning and weight’.

Tracey Chapman, county councillor responsible for highways, said: 'We are looking forward to supporting local events to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and would welcome decorations in the county to mark the occasion.

'But the county council also has a duty to maintain public safety and must ensure decorations are health and safety compliant first.

'The county council intends to make it as easy as possible for residents to celebrate this momentous event and will be issuing guidance to help answer some of the most commonly asked questions.'

Source: ' Daily Mail '

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