A government minister has called on councils to show "flexibility" and allow the public to throw street parties for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, even if applications are received late.
Chris Philp, the technology minister, told Sky News he wanted to see "pragmatism" on behalf of local leaders in allowing the country to properly celebrate the Queen's milestone.
When asked about councils warning the public against hosting unauthorised Platinum Jubilee street celebrations, he said: "I can fully sympathise with the problems you just described."
"I think it is fantastic we are celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and I would just say to local councils around the country including my own in Croydon, if you do get a late application and maybe the deadline has technically passed, I would just say to councils to show a little bit of flexibility, show a little bit of willingness to accommodate people and if you are at all able to, please do grant these requests even if they are made technically after the deadline.
"Let’s just show a bit of flexibility and pragmatism in support of Her Majesty’s 70th Jubilee."
Last night, the public was warned against hosting unauthorised Platinum Jubilee street celebrations in a crackdown by "party killjoys".
Up to 15 million people are planning to celebrate the Queen’s 70-year reign with neighbours, dwarfing the turnout for any previous royal event.
But local authorities said only 16,000 official applications had been approved for the shut down of local roads that would allow parties to go ahead legally.
One council advised against putting bunting up in streets between electrical poles for the four-day bank holiday weekend over fears that it could cause damage to "our dustcarts, light poles and/or vehicles".
Fire brigades warned that emergency service crews needed access down roads and requested tables should not be set up in the middle of streets.
The government ministry in charge of local authorities said residents should organise a "street meet" rather than a street party if neighbours had applied too late for a road closure licence.
The deadline for applications to close a road in time for the Jubilee has now passed.
