Parents ask Sheffield Council to help kids play out on the street
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Oli and Jenny Johnson are encouraging neighbourhoods to have Play Streets, where roads are temporarily closed once a week or month to allow children to play outdoors, to cut down on traffic and pollution and to help neighbours get to know each other.
The couple live with their children on Charnley Avenue and throughout the pandemic it’s become a real community with morning dancing in driveways sessions led by neighbour Charlotte Armitage.
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Hide AdSpeaking at a council meeting, Mr Johnson said: “Play Streets has been supported nationally with guidance from the Department for Transport and it’s been widely taken up by councils across the UK.
“Will the council put a temporary policy in place as part of its Covid recovery strategy to make it easier for residents to apply for regular Play Streets and will the council show citywide support for this initiative?”
Jenny has emailed councillors asking for their support. She says closing streets helps children be more active, make friends and creates more space for social distancing.
“Play streets also have huge potential for emerging and healing from this very difficult time. Everyone has been enjoying quieter streets, enabling many children to cycle in the road for the first time, and many of us want to sustain that sense of local neighbourhood connection in the longer term.”
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Hide AdCoun Julie Grocutt, Cabinet member for transport, said the council supported the initiative but people needed to apply for a license.
She said: “Sheffield Council is confirmed as an active area and the link on the Play Streets website takes you to the street party licence page on our website.
“This is an application form that people interested in temporary road closures for street parties can complete and this same form should be used for people interested in Play Streets.
“I’ve asked officers to ensure that our website makes it clearer that the application process also applies to Play Streets and provides useful links and other information.”