Temporary road closures

What is a temporary road closure?

The district council can only make road closure orders for parades and social events such as street parties.

How to apply for a temporary road closure?

All requests for temporary road closures must be submitted to our offices at least seven weeks before the date of the planned event.

If you know you are going to hold an event during the year you can submit your application as early as possible - you don't have to wait until nearer the time.

If you are going to hold a street party you can download and print the application form from the right of this page. You will also need to include a plan showing the location of the closure.

Once we have received your application, we will acknowledge it and then place it on hold until the due date.

All requests must be submitted in writing and sent to:

Mary-Ellen Oliver
Vale of White Horse District Council
The Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE

They can also be faxed to 01235 540397 or emailed to  TemRdClosure@southandvale.gov.uk 

When making an application please give details of:

• What the event is
• When it will take place
• When it will take place, including the start and ending times
• A plan marked with the area to be closed or a detailed description so it can be easily identified
• A contact name, address or email, and a daytime telephone or fax number.

While not compulsory, organisers are strongly advised to ensure they have adequate insurance cover in place in the event that they are held legally liable to pay compensation if an accident occurs or some third party's property is damaged.

If your event includes musical entertainment, this will require a separate approval and licence - see our Licensing pages for more detail.

How is an application dealt with?

Once we receive an application the request will be recorded and we will consult with the statutory bodies such as fire, police and ambulance services, Oxfordshire County Council as Highway Authority and the relevant Town or Parish Council. We will also consult with other council departments and advise the local councillor.

If any objections are made, these will be raised with the applicant so that they can be discussed and hopefully resolved.

Once the consultation period has expired, and no objections have been sustained, we will inform the applicant that we will make the legal order and informing them of any conditions for compliance. Our Legal Team will then prepare the documentation.