Traffic bans to let children play safely in streets of London

Following successes in Hackney, Sutton, Westminster and Waltham Forest, the Street Play project, organised by campaign group London Play and supported by the Department of Health, is to be expanded by the end of the year to include Haringey, Croydon, Enfield, Newham and Tower Hamlets.

The boroughs were chosen by their poor health indicators and low levels of reported physical activity among children. Councils can impose permanent or temporary closure orders, which allow parents to apply for their street to be closed for a few hours every week or month.

Claudia Draper, a mother of three who petitioned Hackney council to launch the scheme, said: “The best thing is seeing the children running around, having fun without the fear of cars on the roads. Playing out in the street won’t be a once a year treat but a normal part of kids’ lives.”

Source:  http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/traffic-bans-to-let-children-play-safely-in-streets-8549548.html