Temporarily Closing the Public Highway

On this page:

• Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs)
• Closing a road or Public Right of Way (PROW) for planned works
• Closing a road or Public Right of Way (PROW) for emergency works
• Closing a road for an event or street party

Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs)

For any temporary restriction of the public highway, you will need to make a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO).

Most TTROs are made in order to close a road or footpath, but they can be made for many other restrictions such as speed limits, one way traffic or parking restrictions. How an Order is made will depend on the reason it is required. The public highway may need to be closed for many different reasons. For example, a road may need to close to allow for repair, maintenance, construction, demolition, or to allow events, demonstrations or street parties to take place. 

Generally, closures will only take place when all other options to control traffic have been considered and are found to not be suitable.

You can view current and planned road closures on our online map here.

Please make sure that you are applying for the correct type of licence before you confirm payment. You should also check that the location is within West Berkshire (you can find a map of the district here). To cover our administration costs, we can generally only offer a 50% refund where licence applications contain errors or where applicants withdraw their application before it has been granted. Once an application has been processed and granted, we are not able to give refunds if you tell us you no longer need the licence.

You can find information on applying for a TTRO in different circumstances, below:

Closing a road or Public Right of Way (PROW) for planned works

If you wish to apply for a road or PROW to be closed for planned works, please submit a completed  2024-25 TTRO application form [84KB]  to Streetworks Team at least ten weeks in advance of your proposed closure date. This gives us sufficient time to make sure that the closure does not clash with any other works or events, and for us to advertise the closure in the local paper.

The cost of making a TTRO for planned works is £2,434 and is payable by the applicant. This cost includes advertising fees and admin fees. The applicant will also be responsible for providing all traffic management around the site and restriction.

Closing a road or Public Right of Way (PROW) for emergency works

If you wish to apply for a road or PROW to be closed for emergency works please submit a completed  2024-25 TTRO application form [84KB]  to Streetworks Team as soon as possible. The cost of making a TTRO for emergency works is £2,434 and is payable by the applicant. The applicant will also be responsible for providing all traffic management around the site and restriction.

Closing a road for an event or street party

There are two different ways you can close a road for an event or street party. Each method uses different Legislation and has its own criteria that must be met:

Street parties must:

• not be publicised for the general public
• invite the residents of one or two streets only
• not include amplified entertainment
• not sell alcohol or food
• take place on a cul de sac (no through road)
• not include attractions such as fireworks or bouncy castle

If any one of these criteria is not met then then we cannot use Street Party Legislation. 

Events must:

Take place on the public highway and not on private land next to it. If a restriction or closure is required in order to facilitate access/egress to an event on private land this cannot be covered by event Legislation and must be applied for as planned works for TTRO purposes (see above).
 

To close a road for a street party

Assuming that all of the above criteria for a street party is met then there is no requirement for West Berkshire Council to see evidence of Public Liability Insurance although it is strongly advised that all organisers consider taking it out. A robust Risk Assessment must be provided as part of the application. There is no cost to make a TTRO in order to hold a street party. If you are intending to hold a street party, please submit the completed  Street Party Application Form [48KB]  and  Street Party Risk Assessment Template [14KB]  to the Traffic and Road Safety Team at least four weeks before the event.
 

To close a road for an event

If you wish to apply for a road to be closed for an event on the highway, please submit the completed  Event Application Form [129KB] , Risk Assessment and evidence of Public Liability Insurance to the Traffic and Road Safety Team. 

As part of West Berkshire Council's commitment to help provide the best service it can to its residents and businesses, we will make four Traffic Regulation Orders throughout the year, to cover all regular events that require a restriction on the public highway at no cost to the organisers.

These consolidated TROs will be made every three months and will aim to include all known events for the next 3-month period. Any event applications received after the deadlines shown below may be subject to a £96 fee. All organisers will be responsible for providing all traffic management around the event and restriction. West Berkshire Council do not provide traffic management, marshals, signs, cones, or barriers for events.