Queen''s Diamond Jubilee Street Parties and Olympic and Paralympic parties

Barrow Borough Council is inviting organisers of street parties to make applications for Road Closures. The Government has produced a step-by-step guide with practical advice for anyone looking to hold a street party to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, the Big Jubilee Lunch, or the 2012 Olympics or Paralympics. It addresses some of the popular myths surrounding street parties and sets the record straight on what is actually needed (including information on road closures, charges, playing music and insurance) as well as providing links to external organisations who offer support and advice to those looking to organise their own street parties.

The guidance includes a model street party form showing the sort of information local authorities will need to know about the event. If you wish to hold a street party in Barrow Borough can you please complete this standard form. Forms are available to down load from ...

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/doc/2056950.doc

or printed copies are available from Barrow Town Hall.

Barrow Borough Council is not charging a fee for closing a road to hold a street party. We do however ask that you get applications into us as soon as possible and by no later than 1st May, 2012.

Completed forms should be returned to Brenda Gill, Legal Services Department, Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 2LD Tel 876346.

If you require any further information please contact Mrs Ann Taylforth Town Centre and Festivals Manager on 01229 876389 or Brenda Gill in the Council’s Legal Section on 01229 876346.

New advice warns buyers ahead of Olympic ticket sales

With less than one week to go until the ticketing process for the Olympic Games opens, new advice has been launched to make sure it’s the criminals who miss out.

The rise in the use of the internet to purchase tickets and accommodation packages online, coupled with the huge expected demand, gives criminals new opportunities to sell non-existent tickets and steal personal and credit card details to use in other crimes.

Sports fans will be able to get their hands on over 8 million tickets for the Olympic Games and a further 2 million for the Paralympics from 15 March – 26 April when the ticket process opens.

By taking some simple steps, ticket buyers can help to avoid falling victim to crime.

Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said: “The 2012 Games will be one of the biggest sporting events this country has ever hosted, with nearly 11m tickets available for events right across the country.

“Criminals are always looking for ways to con and steal and will see the Olympics as a way to cash in by selling fake tickets or setting up hoax websites. These sites are almost always professional and honest looking, but could take your money and leave you out of pocket and a victim of crime.

“We are offering some easy-to-follow advice to help keep you safe and ensure that people’s excitement about the Games next year isn’t blighted by a bad online experience.”

If you’re buying a ticket for the Games:

o The London 2012 ticket application process opens on the 15 March and you have until 26 April to apply for tickets through LOCOG as tickets are not allocated on a first come first served basis.

o The only way to apply for a ticket in the UK is at http://www.tickets.london2012.com/. This is London 2012’s official site. You can also get a postal application from any Lloyds TSB branch, or from any public library in Northern Ireland. Don’t buy a ticket from an unauthorised website or tout. You risk being scammed, and not getting the ticket you wanted and paid for.

o If you get a ticket for an event you can’t attend, you can return your ticket to get a refund through the London 2012 official ticket exchange. Your ticket will then be officially resold. Details of this will be announced in due course.

o There are only three official providers for Games Breaks and Hospitality.

Packages in the UK - these are:

Thomas Cook - http://www.thomascooklondon2012.com/

Prestige Travel - http://www.prestigeticketing.london2012.com/

Jet Set Travel - www.jetsetsports.com

o Other websites or companies will not be authorised to sell you a ticket as part of a package in the UK. Always check the terms and conditions to see exactly what you are being sold;

o Outside of the UK London 2012 tickets are sold through the country’s National Olympic Committee, or their authorised retailer.

o If you find tickets for sale before the 15th March 2011 or available from any unauthorised source at anytime, don’t buy them. They are not genuine. Report it to your local police, or London 2012 via brandprotection@london2012.com

If you want advice and guidance on fraud please visit www.actionfraud.org