Mac has lived in Belmont Circle for 4 years he runs the very successful Belmont Circle website in  partnership with his wife, Anyta who owns the HA7 magazine.

Getting started:

• Plan early and decide what you want to achieve.
• Set a budget and keep to it.
• You will need to take out Public Liability insurance. It only costs about £50 for a one day event and this provides cover up to £5 million. Search the internet for insurance providers there are lots out there.
• Decide whether or not to close the road. This isn't always necessary as you can think about holding your party in an open space or park. If you would like to close a road, you will need to give the Council at least four weeks notice - contact the Traffic teamon for advice.
• Remember road closures on busy roads and bus routes will not be permitted as this would usually involve lengthy and expensive diversions for traffic.
• Harrow Council is making it easier for you to hold a street party as they are waiving the fee for 2012!
• Make sure you leave space for any emergency vehicles to gain access should they need to.
• Publicise your event to your neighbours, invite them face-to-face as well as with a written invitation. Then use posters, leaflets, Twitter and Facebook to promote the street party. 

Getting people involved:

• Involve all your neighbours - street parties are a celebration for residents.
• Nominate a first-aider who can be clearly identified.
• Ask people what entertainment they would like and ask how they could help. 
• You may want to use the street party to fundraise for a charity or cause which is close to your heart.  

On the day:

• Make sure there are plenty of chairs, as not everyone will want to stand throughout the party. 
• Be prepared for bad weather. We always plan to have a few marquee's as back ups just in case. You can also speak to local community halls to see if they might be able to help. If none of these are possible you may need to postpone the street party, so make sure you can get the word around quickly, and have someone on site to let people know who may turn up. 
• Decorate your street, but use common sense. Lightweight bunting should be used.  
• Think about food hygiene, here is some advice on food preparation
• Take photos!

Entertainment:

• Playing games is a brilliant way to break the ice. Just make sure your games are suitable for all ages.
• Music is a great way to create a party atmosphere, just make sure it isn't too loud and doesn't disturb residents who may not be taking part. You will also need to have the permission of the copyright. Visit www.prsformusic.com for details. 
• Food can be as big or small a part of your party as you choose. It might be the theme of your party, or you could keep it simple and get neighbours to bring a picnic. 

After the party:

• Once you've finished clearing up why not share your street party by posting photos onto the Council's Facebook page www.facebook.com/harrowcouncil