Street Party Fever Breaks out Again

Street party fever is set to break out in Sutton again as communities across the borough come together to celebrate this year’s Big Lunch.

A total of 37 street parties were held in Sutton to mark the Royal Wedding last month, one of the highest in London.

Now Sutton Council is calling on residents to break out the bunting again and get involved in the Eden Project's annual Big Lunch project, which aims to build community spirit by asking people to hold street parties across the UK with their neighbours.

The official day of the Big Lunch is Sunday 5 June but people in Sutton can hold their street party anytime during June or July as part of the Take Part Take Pride Festival.

To make things as easy as possible, the council has waived the usual £25 fee road closure fee and slashed the amount of red tape involved.

Deputy Leader Cllr Ruth Dombey, Sutton’s “Big Lunch Local Champion”, said: “The Big Lunch is a brilliant way to get neighbours and local communities together and help build an even greater sense of community spirit across the borough.

“People in Sutton responded in their scores when we made it easy to hold street parties for the Royal Wedding and I’m sure they’ll do the same for the Big Lunch. It’s a great opportunity for friends and neighbours in Sutton to get to know each other better – and have a really fun time.”

To register a road closure for a Big Lunch street party, simply send an email to to trafficpostbook@sutton.gov.uk| giving details of the organisers; contact telephone numbers; email address; address and postcode; name of road to be closed; date and times of closure and if the road is on a bus route giving details of the organisers; contact telephone numbers; email address; address and postcode; name of road to be closed; date and times of closure and if the road is on a bus route.

For closures on 5 June, road closure applications have to be in by 20 May; for those between 12 and 26 June, applications close on 27 May; for those between 3 and 17 July, the closure date is 17 June; and for those between 24 and 31 July, applications close on 8 July.

This is because by law the council needs sufficient time for a road closure to be agreed and the relevant notices published – though people can take part in the Big Lunch by holding parties in their gardens or home without any paperwork.

The Big Lunch was started in 2009 by Cornwall-based eco visitor attraction, The Eden Project, with the ambition of giving neighbours from different generations and backgrounds the chance to hear each other out and share stories, skills and interests - dubbed ‘human warming’.

This is the third year that the Big Lunch has been staged. Last year, nearly one million people took part in Big Lunch events across the UK.

For more information see www.thebiglunch.com|

Picture shows London Mayor Boris Johnson and actress Barbara Windsor at the Big Lunch launch in Sutton.