The sight and sound of children playing happily in the street seems to belong to a by-gone age of old newsreels, Enid Blyton adventure stories and the BBC’s Light Programme! But thanks to a new initiative, a street in North Somerset has already tried and tested this out and with a bit of help from neighbours and North Somerset Council’s Street Scene team, organised a street closure so that children could feel as safe as their grandparents did!
Byron Close, Locking village, is the first street in North Somerset to take out a temporary street closure order so that children can play safely for a couple of hours after school.
Mum, Lenna Harris commented: “There was a general feeling from all involved that this is a wonderful way of taking children away from their computer screens and televisions for a while for some healthy air and exercise. “
The ‘PlayingOut’ project started up in Bristol where two neighbours who shared an interest in free play wanted their children to have some of the same freedom they had growing up. Now, in a move to introduce the scheme to north Somerset more parents and children living in North Somerset are invited to sign up their street for some safe street play!
Parent organizer Lenna Harris said, “It was an unbelievable success that we must repeat! The street closure took place for just a couple of hours and it wasn’t just the children who had fun. Often we just don’t see our neighbours so it was good to have a street gathering while the children did what comes natural and just played out.”
If you would like to activate street play in your community and want to find out more about ‘Playing Out’ visit: www.playingout.net or contact Liz Lansley at liz.lansley@n-somerset.gov.uk 01275 885 143,
This sounds like great scheme which enables young children to play within sight and sound of their homes. I hope it takes off.
ReplyDeleteTony Moore