ROYAL wedding street party rules were thrown into confusion yesterday when a councillor contradicted official Swindon Council advice.

On the final day that street party applications could be made, Coun Peter Greenhalgh told one of the Blunsdon street party organisers, Alison Porter, that she could make her own road closure signs when he appeared on BBC Radio Wiltshire.

It went against official advice which said that in order to close the High Street she would need to employ contractors to supply signs and set up the closure and diversion.

Mum-of-two Alison said: “I made the point about making the signs ourselves and making them look absolutely the same.

“He started saying there are templates on websites which create signs that look as much like proper road signs as you can actually get.

“He said as long as we are sensible we could use those.”

However, Alison had previously received an email from an officer which said the signs needed to have been “council approved” and “cannot be made yourselves.”

She had been advised to use Sun Traffic Signals Limited or Highways and Civil Engineering, and had been quoted a bill of £110 from the former.

Alison said she was absolutely gobsmacked by the advice from Coun Greenhalgh because of the information she had previously been given.

“Whether or not he was talking off the top of his head I’m not sure,” she said.

“Obviously we want to keep the event safe so I completely understand why the council have said we need signs.

“We need to make sure cars don’t go careering through the road. I did think it was a bit odd for him to go ‘that’s all right then.’ That is not what everybody has been saying.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition, Derique Montaut, (Lab) said Coun Greenhalgh had been reckless with his comments.

“I think the Conservative administration have to remind themselves of the responsibly of officers advising on a professional basis to the local residents. That can’t be contravened in the public arena by the politicians for political capital,” he said.

“While central government are attempting to loosen planning regulations in order for it to be easier for members of the public to hold street parties on the day of the royal wedding, it seems that this council’s Conservative administration are playing the role of party pooper by making it more difficult for the public to hold street parties.

“I call on this administration to do whatever they can to make it easier for members of the public to hold street parties, without infringing on the safety of residents.”

Coun Greenhalgh was unavailable for comment but Swindon Council spokesman Kevin Burchall confirmed that the group could make their own signs for the party.

“We are taking into account what the Prime Minister and Eric Pickles said yesterday and are making it as easy as possible for people to celebrate the Royal wedding,” he said.