From pudding competitions and national tree-planting schemes, to commemorative 50p coin launches and civic and County Park awards, including for Lullingstone, events to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are already well underway.
But activities will reach a whole new level when people across the UK enjoy an extended bank holiday weekend next month to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s unmatched 70 years of service to the nation.
And Kent County Council (KCC) is busy working to ensure Kent’s communities can celebrate the historic occasion, and the contribution of the world’s longest-serving monarch, in style.
After waiving the regular road closure application fee, KCC Highways received an incredible 595 requests for road closures to host street parties over the central Jubilee weekend from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June.
An impressive 575 applications have now been assessed, safety-checked and granted. The full list of approved road closures, by District, can be found on our website here: Traffic Order – Platinum Jubilee (kent.gov.uk)
20 applications were turned down for various reasons, including they breached traffic laws because they covered, for example, a main road or bus route, or were commercial events, or for other authorities to determine.
An additional 7 applications to hang bunting or signs from street lighting have also been received and approved so far. While the deadline for road closure applications is now passed, requests to hang bunting or signs from street lights can be made up to 4pm, Friday 27 May. If you want to apply visit: Street lights – Kent County Council
Street parties are a great chance for communities to get together
Kent County Council Leader Roger Gough said: “I am very proud to say KCC was one of the first authorities in the UK to make it free for people to apply for a road closure to host street parties over the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday.
“I am equally proud to say Kent’s response was incredible and we received a fantastic number of applications.
“After the huge challenges of COVID there could be no better time to get together and celebrate The Queen’s 70 years of amazing service to the nation and we want to make it as easy as possible for Kent communities to enjoy the four days of exciting, focused festivities.“
With the big Platinum Jubilee weekend just a few weeks away, KCC has also today launched a Jubilee page on the LetsTalkKent website to provide a range of information about the celebrations in Kent.
The page includes:
- A map showing the Beacon Lightings taking place across the county – to form part of a national network of lit beacons, on Thursday, 2 June
- Links to apply for permission to hang bunting or signs on streetlights (closing date 27 May at 4pm)
- Links to events taking place in Kent’s libraries
- Opportunity for residents to share Jubilee updates, including volunteering
- Check before you travel advice, ‘Every Single Journey’, with a link to road closures, and
- Information about the Jubilee on other websites, such as the Government’s GOV.UK ‘How to get involved’ and ‘Events’ pages and the Lieutenancy of Kent , which represents The Queen in the county.
The Queen, 96, is the world’s longest-serving monarch
The LetsTalkKent page will also document KCC Members’ efforts to collectively give 70 hours of time to volunteering in their local community through May.
The challenge for County Councillors to collectively give an hour of time for every year of service by The Queen, was laid down last month jointly by Leader Roger Gough and Chairman Lesley Game, with Lesley kicking off the initiative by volunteering at Kitchen Social in Margate. Vice-Chairman Gary Cooke also volunteered at the Heart of Kent Hospice Shop in Park Wood, Maidstone.
Lesley Game has also launched a Schools Platinum Jubilee Baking Competition, open to children and young people in key stages 2, 3 and 4. Full details can be found on the LetsTalkKent page here
KCC Chairman Lesley Game said: “Throughout her 70 years of service, The Queen has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.
“The Platinum Jubilee is a fantastic opportunity for us to recognise this significant public contribution.
“The Central Weekend also gives us all a chance to pay tribute to how Kent united through the pandemic and bring family, friends, neighbours and our local communities even closer together.”