North-east Fife residents are putting the bubbly on ice for royal wedding day, but there has been a lukewarm response elsewhere in the region.
Fife Council has received three licence applications for street parties on April 29, when Prince William will tie the knot with long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton.
These have been from residents in St Andrews, Cupar and Leuchars.
Although just a few, it is still three more than Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Inverness councils have received.
Unsurprisingly, the parties are clustered around William and Kate’s university town, where the couple met 10 years ago.
St Andrews University itself is getting involved by hosting a wedding breakfast in St Salvator’s Quadrangle, set to be televised by the BBC.
And the clamour for tickets has led to the party being extended.
Organisers have been overwhelmed by the demand for tickets, with over 6000 people hoping to join the April 29 festivities.
The number of requests made when the ballot closed on Monday is over three times the capacity of St Salvator’s Quad, where party-goers will be entertained as they prepare to watch the nuptials on big screens.
To allow as many people as possible to enjoy the atmosphere, the breakfast, which is expected to be broadcast live as part of pre-wedding television coverage, will go on for three hours longer than originally intended.’Fantastic support’St Andrews Community Council and organising committee chairman Kyffin Roberts said, “We had originally intended to conclude our programme of entertainment at around 1pm to coincide with the conclusion of the wedding events themselves in London.
“However, given the huge public demand we have now arranged for a programme of free entertainment to continue at St Salvator’s Quad throughout the afternoon until 4pm.”
He added, “We expect that many of those who have been at the wedding breakfast since around 8am will want to leave at around lunchtime.
“Therefore, we would invite anyone who has not attended during the morning to arrive at the quad after 1pm, when, subject to our capacity limits, we will welcome others, townspeople and visitors alike, who want to join the festivities.”
Mr Roberts also praised the support of an ever-growing number of St Andrews organisations and businesses providing sponsorship, help and people power
He said, “We have had absolutely fantastic support from the university students’ association, whose enthusiasm and organisational skills have been superb.
“St Andrews school pupils have also risen to the occasion and will play a big part on the day, on stage and off.”
Ticket applicants will be told if they have been successful in the next few days.
Tickets for a royal wedding ceilidh on the eve of the wedding are selling well, but some remain available at the Byre Theatre.
No tickets are being issued for the afternoon events.
People will be admitted free on a first-come first-served basis.Applications fast-trackedMeanwhile, Iain Henderson from the council’s traffic management service said there was still time to apply for street party licences, but last-minute planners would have to get their applications quickly.
He said, “We have made the decision to waive the usual charge of £475 for a temporary road closure for people organising street parties for the royal wedding, since this is a special event.
“Anyone who wants to apply for a road closure has to follow a set of procedures including filling in an application form.
“A legal order has to be made, which has to be published in the local press and notices have to be put up on the applicant’s behalf by a council officer.”
He added, “To carry out this whole process we usually need 30 working days’ notice but, despite the fact we’re only two weeks away from the royal wedding, we’d be happy to try and work with anyone who is interested to accommodate any requests we receive by the end of this week to meet the advertising deadlines.”
Although there was less appetite for street parties elsewhere in Fife, some Levenmouth residents will be getting into the spirit of things.
Leven Community Cinema is showing the wedding at the Regent on Commercial Road, with some cinema-goers expected to turn up in their wedding dresses.
The cinema group secured permission from the BBC to screen the event.
Spokeswoman Sandra McKean said, “We’ve had a few people say they are going to come with their own wedding dresses on, because when else can they wear them?
“It’s a public holiday and this will be a nice way to spend it.”
Entry to see the wedding on the big screen in Leven is free and there will be refreshments on sale.
The cinema is expected to open at 10am, with a children’s matinee following the wedding and a screening of The King’s Speech in the evening.