Play Your Way
‘Play you Way’ Play Streets are neighbour-led short road closures, creating a safe space for children to play freely together on their doorstep.
A Play Street allows children and young people to play outdoors, even if they are unable to access a park or playground in their neighbourhood. It involves closing a road to traffic for a couple of hours, often once a month, so that neighbours can connect and children play together in a safe traffic-free space.
Organised by residents, Play Streets are free as well as fun, and have been found to increase children’s levels of physical activity. It is also a great way to get to know your neighbours!
If you are interested in Play Streets, the first thing to do is gauge interest from your neighbours. Then email us (GetActive@n-somerset.gov.uk) and we can see if your street is eligible for a road closure. Support is provided to apply for the traffic order. We can also provider template paperwork, letters, posters, etc to help inform neighbours. For more information, watch the simple four-step guide on the National Playing Out website.
Play Your Way is facilitated by North Somerset Council’s Street Works and Public Health teams and adopts the principles of the national Playing Out organisation.
Principles of Play Your Way
Play Your Way can be held on agreed dates and times:
• for up to two hours
• once a week, twice a month or monthly
• out of school hours and during daylight hours
Streets are closed to through traffic, however vehicle access for residents is maintained. The closure must be supervised by designated stewards. Resident vehicles that leave or enter the street are escorted by a steward. There is currently no charge for a street closure under this scheme and approved signage and other resources for eligible streets can be provided. Parents/carers are responsible for the safety and supervision of children and vulnerable adults in their care at all times during the street closure.
For more information, please contact GetActive@n-somerset.gov.uk, or call 01275 882 730.
Suitable streets
• cul-de-sacs and no through streets
• residential streets serving cul-de-sacs and hamlets
Streets that are unsuitable are those with:
• a bus route
• scheduled road works or emergency works
Help to organise street play
The national organisation Playing Out provides free resources and advice for residents about enabling street play.
As well as instructional videos and a step-by-step ‘manual for organisers’, you can download template posters and other materials or contact them directly for advice
Free Equipment Available
To encourage North Somerset residents to initiate play streets, we are offering free play streets equipment. The first three successful applications to set up a Play Street will get a free bag of playing out resources and equipment to help children play out, up to the value of £150.
Kit can include: road closure signs, Playing Out organiser pack including manual, guidance for stewards; wheelie bin stickers, whistles, posters, chalk. Equipment of your choice (from specified websites) to include, for example, skipping ropes, soft balls, hula hoops, cones, beanbags, etc.
Residents must close road for at least 2 hours, once a month, 6 times within the next year from application approval.
We will need feedback from residents and a brief case study; templates will be provided.
Email GetActive@n-somerset.gov.uk to find out more.
Eligibility
- Must be a North Somerset resident organising an official Play Street within North Somerset
- Street must be approved as suitable for closure
- The first 3 approved road closure applications will get £150 towards playing out equipment.
- You will be able to choose which equipment pieces you want from specified websites. This is NOT a cash prize.
- Equipment ordered will then become property of the street/lead resident, which is expected to be used for the Playing Out sessions. You will need to store this and maintain the equipment. We are not able to replace this.
