Westminster has launched the first of three new Play Streets in Northumberland Place in Bayswater, which will now be closed to traffic on certain evenings and weekends to give children more space to play outdoors.
Play Streets temporarily restrict vehicle access to create safer, cleaner environments where children can play and families can socialise. These schemes are community-led, with residents and parents deciding activities and local volunteers managing road closures.
Two more Play Streets, on Ashmore Road and Kilravock Street, will be introduced in early September as part of Westminster’s broader Active Streets programme, designed to make the city’s roads healthier and more active. The initiative complements the borough’s 13 permanent School Streets.
The new Play Streets will be implemented following a trail scheme with opened on Luton and Fisherton Street in 2019.
Speaking at the launch event on Northumberland Place, Cabinet Member for Communities, Cara Sanquest, said: ‘I’m delighted that the council is working with local residents and parents to create new opportunities for children to play and for communities to come together.
‘There are huge health and wellbeing benefits for children from having space to run around and play outside. Congratulations to all of the parents who have worked so hard in collaboration with the council to create a safe and fun environment for children to play on their doorsteps.’
Play Streets form one of three schemes under the Council’s Active Street programme. School Streets are another and the third is Street Play which offers a one-off road closure for children and families to play in streets on a specified day. There can be up to three such closures over a 12 month period.
The Play Street process involves three stages. First, applicants must conduct initial ‘Street Play’ sessions to introduce and engage the community. Following this, the second stage involves hosting ‘Multiple Street Play’ sessions by invitation, allowing for broader participation and deeper community involvement. Once these stages are successfully completed, applicants can apply for an official ‘Play Street’ establishing a dedicated space where children can play safely and freely on a regular basis.
Play Streets have been growing in popularity since the first one was established by Playing Out in Bristol in 2009.
Research from Play England highlights the decline in children regularly playing out in their street over the past 70+ years, while also demonstrating that regularly playing out is associated with better wellbeing during childhood, as well as better mental health into adulthood.
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