Liverpool City Council is waiving road closure fees for residents who want to hold street parties between Thursday 8 May and Sunday 11 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The Government is encouraging communities around the country to host their own street or home celebrations – with flags and bunting, games, fancy dress, music and dance.
To help communities get their street party planning under way, the Council is asking organisers to fill in a special online form which can then start the process of getting all the relevant permissions in place.
The Council normally charges around £3,000 to shut a road, but is making an exception for VE Day events – and will also supply road closure signage and any traffic management cones to be located in and around the area.
Any resident who is considering hosting a street party just needs to meet some simple criteria:
The event must be:
-Organised and funded by the applicant
- -In a residential road
- -The organiser must pay for public liability insurance worth up to £1 million
- -Most residents in a street must agree to the event
- -A Temporary Events Notice is needed if alcohol is to be sold
Please note: major roads and key bus routes cannot be closed, so please bear that in mind when submitting requests.
To express an interest in hosting a party, an online form found on the council’s street party page must be submitted. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 30 April. Full information can be found here.
Other events in Liverpool to mark VE Day include:
Sunday 4 May
Beating Retreat on Castle Street in the city centre at 1pm
A full 50-piece band comprising the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association Pipes and Drums accompanied by The Scot Guards Association Pipes & Drums, the Wirral Pipe Band and the 103 Artillery Pipes and Drums will perform a selection of tunes, and the Liverpool Town Hall balcony will be dressed with red, white and blue banners.
Thursday 8 May
Let the Nation’s Bells Ring Loud at 6:30pm
The bells at Liverpool’s two Cathedrals and Liverpool Parish Church will lead churches across the city in ringing out as part of the nation’s “Together We Chime” VE80 initiative.
Illuminated civic buildings
Key civic buildings across the city including St George’s Hall and Cunard Building will be illuminated in red, white, and blue in the evening.
Beacon Lighting on Exchange Flags at 9.30pm
In a moment of national unity, four beacons behind Liverpool Town Hall will be lit as a powerful symbol of peace and remembrance accompanied by civic dignitary speeches and a lone piper. The four beacons will be positioned in locations that mirror the four bunker walls that still sit under the site today. This space was key for operations during WWII, and air for the bunker was provided via a ventilation shaft built into the Nelson Monument on the site.
Thursday 8 May – Sunday 11 May
Western Approaches Museum from 10am – 6pm
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day there will be celebrations, talks, singing and games at the former headquarters for the Battle of the Atlantic – and entry for children is only £1.
Sunday 11 May
Service at Liverpool Parish Church
A special VE Day Service will take place at St Nicholas’ Church, providing invited guests a time to reflect and honour those who served and those who continue to serve.
Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Harry Doyle, said:
“We’re doing our best to make it as easy as possible for people to hold street parties, and I would encourage communities to get involved in marking this historic anniversary.
“The series of events during the week will give people an opportunity to reflect on the significance of what happened eight decades ago.”
Lord Mayor, Cllr Richard Kemp, said:
“VE Day 80 is not only a tribute to those who fought for the freedom we all enjoy today, but also a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity that have defined our country ever since.
“It is vital that we never forget the sacrifices that were made by so many people in our city during World War II that eventually led to Victory in Europe.”
Guy Lewinsohn, CEO, Ashtrom Properties, which owns Exchange Flags, said:
“Exchange Flags is honoured to play a key role in Liverpool’s 80th VE Day celebrations by hosting the lighting of the beacons. As a site which is routed in wartime history and home to the Western Approaches Command Headquarters, where vital naval operations were led against the German U-boat threat, Exchange Flags holds a strong connection to the legacy of VE Day.
“With our courtyard facing Liverpool Town Hall and the square housing the iconic Nelson Monument, this location serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for our freedom. As the owners of this prestigious Grade A commercial office scheme, we are proud to commemorate this historic milestone.”
