A MAYOR has blamed 'red tape' after it was revealed just three street parties were to be held in his borough for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council has extended the deadline for road-closure applications by a week to encourage more parties over the extended holiday weekend.

Back in 1977, when the nation celebrated the Queen's silver jubilee, dozens of parties were held across the borough.

The council, like a number of other local authorities, had agreed to waive the usual road closure fee -- which covers the cost of advertising the closure and putting up diversion signs -- to foster more interest in the celebrations.

But people are believed to have been put off by concerns over insuring their events.

Borough councils such as Pendle and Rossendale have decided to provide easy access for party organisers to liability insurance at a cost of £105 by arranging it through the council's own insurers.

Coun John Williams, the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, urged community groups to stage street parties.

He said: "I am very disappointed that only three parties have been arranged so far, especially with the council waiving fees for street parties.

"The council will do all they can to help but there has been a lot of other red-tape madness like getting insurance. I can remember just after the war when people would hold street parties at the drop of a hat. They were great."

The three streets which are to be closed are Kentmore Drive, Feniscowles, Lightbown Street, Darwen and Scotland Bank Terrace, Livesey.

Application forms for closure orders can be obtained by calling 01254 841284

They can be collected from Blackburn or Darwen town halls or from The Exchange in Ainsworth Street. The deadline is now May 11.

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