Bread Street street party plans

Some residents of Bread Street have been talking for a while about how it would be good to have a street party to get to know each other better. A few of us met informally on Wednesday night in the Vine Tree - we are going for it on Saturday 28th June 2008.

Photos: snow a week or so ago in Ruscombe valley

Of course all residents in Bread Street (about 100 of us) will be invited - indeed it is 'our' party and we are hoping that many will want to help in the preparations and get to know newcomers and old, in the street. I've scribbled together a letter that another Bread Street resident has turned into a proper looking letter with a picture of bread and he will deliver this weekend.

The letter will also have details of our first proper planning meeting - exciting stuff - getting to know neighbours has become more difficult over the years with television, computers and busy lives - yet feeling a part of ones community has been shown to have enormous benefits to well being and more. Here's a list of benefits I came across re street parties:
* supporting social cohesion between age groups and backgrounds
* reducing fear of neighbours
* reducing fear of crime and promoting watchful neighbours
* getting to know young people
* giving children a chance to play together in their street for a day
* a chance to talk about local issues

Building more community resilience is going to be increasingly important - the loss of water for 2 weeks in our area during the floods was one example - and where people knew each other they were able to support each other much better - hey but who needs all this to justify a street party - already the planning meetings and getting to know neighbours better is turning out to be great fun!

Anyhow I've applied for a road closure and that will go out for consultation - the fee is around £40/£50 and we already have funding agreed to pay for that. We are also discovering all sorts like bunting used in the former Lower Street, Ruscombe parties can be borrowed - but more of plans in future for now I would urge others to also think about a street party - it doesn't have to be big - indeed I remember as a child badgering my parents into organising one for the Jubilee celebrations - no one else was doing anything in our neighbourhood - my parents eventually relented in having a party in our house - I remember how great it was to meet neighbours in a different way - and afterwards how it felt more friendly in the street....

When I arrived in Bread Street we have been lucky enough to have a close neighbour, David Tapp, who put on parties for his friends, families and close neighbours - they were amazing parties which included everything from fire eaters and live music to bouncey castles and a chillout zone....anyhow he has left the country so "Tapp Fest" is no more - so while I am not sure we can compete this summer with fire eaters we will certainly be having some fun...