Four days of national celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day will see street parties held across Erewash – with the borough council urging residents to start planning NOW for the May festivities.
The reminder has been issued ahead of a looming deadline for road closure applications. They must be submitted to the council by Friday 21st March – because the town hall has a duty to liaise with highways authorities and the police.
Applying to close a road for a street party is free – but organisers need to consult with all their neighbours first.
Temporary closure notices – supplied by the council – have to be displayed seven days before the event. It is up to organisers to put them up and take them down afterwards.
If you are arranging a street party you will also be responsible for “road closed” signs – plus any “diversion” signs. A brief outline of the event, including timings and the road that needs to close, should be emailed to democratic @ erewash.gov.uk – representatives of which will be happy to supply more information. Alternatively, you can ring 0115 907 1186.
VE Day is on Thursday 8th May. A spectacular London parade from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace will kick off celebrations on Monday 5 May – which is a Bank Holiday. Wartime planes will take to the skies along with the Red Arrows. On Tuesday 6th May historic landmarks across the country will be lit up – as an eye-popping display of thousands of ceramic poppies makes a return to the Tower of London.
A concert will be broadcast from Westminster Hall on Wednesday 7th May. It will be followed by another in London’s Horse Guards Parade which will be attended by 10,000 on VE Day itself – Thursday 8th May. There will also be a service at Westminster Abbey.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the commemorations will “pay tribute to all those who served in the Second World War and reflect on the values that they were fighting for".
Defence Secretary John Healey declared: "The freedoms we enjoy today were defended by our remarkable Second World War generation. Our duty today is to safeguard the British values they sacrificed so much to uphold."
Councillor Becca Everett, Lead Member for Community Engagement, echoed the sentiments. She said: "VE Day is a poignant moment to honour the extraordinary courage and resilience of those who secured our freedom. It's also a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bonds in our community. We encourage residents to come together, celebrate, and share stories of this historic day. Let's make this VE Day a truly memorable occasion across our proud borough."
More information about events around the country can be found here: VE Day 80 - Join the party in a shared moment of celebration!
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