Apply for a temporary road closure if you are organising a march, parade, sporting event or another event on the highway.
Submit your application as early as possible and allow at least eight weeks before the event.
You may also need a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order from Essex Highways. These can take between eight and 12 weeks to process, depending on the number of roads or public rights of way affected.
Before you apply
Before submitting your road closure application, you must:
- notify the police, emergency services and any affected bus operators
- arrange public liability insurance
- apply for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order where required
- complete a risk assessment
- prepare a traffic management and diversion plan
Processions, parades and sporting events
Contact Essex Police before organising a procession, parade, sporting event or another event on the highway.
Tell Essex Police about a procession, protest or event.
You are also responsible for notifying any emergency services and bus operators that may be affected by the closure.
Temporary Traffic Regulation Order
You will need a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order if your event requires a temporary:
- road closure
- one-way restriction
- speed limit
- prohibition of entry
- banned turn
- weight restriction
Sporting events on the highway, including running events, will normally require a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order in addition to the road closure application submitted to Colchester City Council.
Apply to Essex Highways for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for a special event.
Public liability insurance
You must have public liability insurance providing at least £5 million of cover.
When applying, provide:
- the insurance company’s name and address
- your policy number
- a copy of the valid insurance document
Complete a risk assessment
You must complete and upload a risk assessment with your application.
Download the event risk assessment form (Word document, 29KB).
Read the road closure and street party terms and conditions before applying.
Traffic management and diversion routes
Colchester City Council does not arrange or manage road closures for external applicants.
You are responsible for arranging:
- suitable traffic management
- signs, barriers and cones
- a diversion route where required
- a competent company to implement and manage the closure
Any diversion route must be approved by Essex Highways.
Colchester City Council will charge £100 if you ask us to help prepare a diversion route map.
Apply for a road closure
Submit the application once you have contacted the relevant organisations and prepared the required documents.
You will need to upload:
- the completed risk assessment
- proof of public liability insurance providing at least £5 million of cover
- a location plan showing the proposed closure
- a traffic management and diversion route plan where required
Apply for a temporary road closure for an event
What happens after you apply
We will assess your application and consult relevant organisations, including Essex County Council and Essex Police.
We will contact you to confirm whether the application has been approved.
If the closure is approved, you must inform all affected residents and businesses before the event.
Colchester City Council cannot provide staff to manage sporting events or other road closures on the highway.
Road closure signs, barriers and cones may be available for collection from the council’s Shrub End Depot. A charge applies if you request delivery.