This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-13032370
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Royal wedding: Cameron urges street party celebrations | Royal wedding: Cameron urges street party celebrations |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The prime minister has called on the nation to "get on and have fun" on the day of the royal wedding, urging Britons to organise street parties. | The prime minister has called on the nation to "get on and have fun" on the day of the royal wedding, urging Britons to organise street parties. |
| In href="www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/royalwedding/3520066/David-Camerons-Royal-Wedding-boost.htmlttp://" title="Sun newspaper" >the Sun newspaper, David Cameron warns councils "not to interfere", after reports of "petty bureaucracy". | |
| He says 29 April will be a "chance [to]... celebrate the great things about our country". | He says 29 April will be a "chance [to]... celebrate the great things about our country". |
| It comes after recent figures revealed 4,000 applications for street parties in England and Wales. | It comes after recent figures revealed 4,000 applications for street parties in England and Wales. |
| On Monday, Mr Cameron will travel to the north of England, with wife Samantha, to promote street celebrations. | On Monday, Mr Cameron will travel to the north of England, with wife Samantha, to promote street celebrations. |
| Urgent guidance | Urgent guidance |
| The Department for Communities and Local Government is also expected to issue urgent new guidance for councils who have attempted to stop royal wedding festivities with unnecessary conditions. | The Department for Communities and Local Government is also expected to issue urgent new guidance for councils who have attempted to stop royal wedding festivities with unnecessary conditions. |
| In February, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond wrote to all councils in England informing them that he was cutting Whitehall red tape by scrapping existing government road-closure guidance. | |
| He said the move was designed to make it easier for councils to let street parties go ahead and allow local communities to celebrate without being inundated by paperwork. | He said the move was designed to make it easier for councils to let street parties go ahead and allow local communities to celebrate without being inundated by paperwork. |
| The Health and Safety Executive has also said it is concerned "health and safety" is being used as an excuse not to hold celebrations. | |
| It said health and safety was "often invoked to disguise someone's real motives - concerns over costs or complexity, compensation culture or an unwillingness to honestly defend an unpopular decision". | |
| Mr Cameron, in the Sun, said: "Samantha and I will be holding one in Downing Street and bringing together local people and charities. | |
| "It's incredibly simple. All you need to do is to get in touch with your council if you need to close the road. They'll let you know if there are any issues. | "It's incredibly simple. All you need to do is to get in touch with your council if you need to close the road. They'll let you know if there are any issues. |
| "My message to everyone who wants to have a street party is: I'm having one and I want you to go ahead and have one too. | "My message to everyone who wants to have a street party is: I'm having one and I want you to go ahead and have one too. |
| "The truth is that this is a great chance for communities to come together and celebrate. | "The truth is that this is a great chance for communities to come together and celebrate. |
| "So go on - bring out the bunting and let's make this a day to remember. For everyone." | "So go on - bring out the bunting and let's make this a day to remember. For everyone." |
| Minister for health and safety Chris Grayling said: "The royal wedding will be a great national occasion and I want to reassure everyone that they can have street parties with friends and family and bring out the bunting to celebrate in time-honoured British tradition. | |
| "There is no reason whatsoever for anyone to ban these celebrations on the grounds of health and safety. We are restoring common sense to our health and safety system, ensuring it is there to protect people at work not penalise people at leisure." |