Join Your Neighbours For A Big Lunch

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Street parties planned for July

This year's Big Lunch takes place on Sunday 18th July - but so far not a single one has been confirmed for W12.

The Big Lunch is a one-day get together with your neighbours and can involve anything from simple tea parties in back gardens to large street parties for the whole neighbourhood.

The annual event is designed to encourage good neighbourliness and better and friendlier relations with people living nearby.

So far, the nearest one to Shepherd's Bush is in Claxton Grove, Hammersmith.

Organisers say that if there's no get-together taking place near you, you can either set up your own or join your nearest gathering. "It’s not meant to be an exclusive street party," they say.

They offer the following advice for setting up your own street party: "Apply to your local council at least six weeks before The Big Lunch. Best allow 10 weeks, you know how things are. Ask for the Traffic Management or Events team. If you get stuck, visit the Streets Alive website.

"We’re lobbying councils to make this process easy. If you have problems email us. If you can’t close your street, don’t despair. Any common ground will do, such as a communal garden, local park, pub garden, private garden or driveway, school playground, church, mosque, synagogue, gurdwara or temple. The wilder the venue, the better the party."

Last year's Big Lunch saw almost one million people come together to enjoy community events – and this year the organisers want millions more to knock on the doors of their neighbours, say hello and invite them for lunch.

To find out more about the event, visit the Big Lunch website.

May 21, 2010