Play Streets scheme launches in Buckinghamshire

Children across Buckinghamshire are being given the opportunity to play safely outside on their doorstep through a new scheme being launched by Buckinghamshire Council.

Neighbours can now apply for a Play Streets session to close their road for a few hours at a time, so that communities can come together and children can meet up and have fun outdoors.

Play Streets already take place in many other areas across the UK and have proved very popular, encouraging children to get active in the fresh air and also helping to tackle social isolation by connecting neighbours. The scheme first started in Bristol through the national organisation ‘Playing Out’.

Two trial events took place in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and children enjoyed being able to scoot and cycle on their street, while adults chatted and got to know each other.

Gareth Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration at Buckinghamshire Council, said: ‘We’re delighted to bring Play Streets to Bucks. Many of us will remember playing out on the street when we were younger, but lots of children just don’t have that opportunity now.

Play Streets gives them that freedom again, to grab their bike or skipping rope and make friends outside their front door.‘

Emma Bornebroek, who organised the Play Streets trial event in High Wycombe and found it really helped bring her neighbours together, said: ‘Our road can be quite busy with traffic and so it’s not possible for children to play on the street. Being able to close it for a few hours made a huge difference and the kids had a fantastic time playing.

It was also great for adults to meet up and connect with people they hadn’t met before or seen for some time due to the Covid pandemic.‘

Residents can apply to see if their street is suitable for a Play Streets session on the Buckinghamshire Council Play Streets webpage.

Further information about the scheme can be found on the national Playing Out website.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.