Reading Play Streets Announced

From June 11 Reading residents will be able to apply to temporarily close residential streets for a few hours every fortnight for their children to play in, as part of a new Reading Borough Council initiative called Play Streets.

Play Streets allow children to play safely on their own road with friends who may live nearby. For adults, it is a good opportunity to get to know neighbours who they may not have met before. The new scheme is being launched this week as part of a one year trial.

Applications are open to people who live on residential streets only. Applicants need to aim for supporting signatures from around two-thirds of residents who live on the street for their bids to be considered.

A Play Street can be created for up to three hours, on any day of the week, and up to once every fortnight. Residents are asked to avoid conflict with normal bin collection days for the road they are applying for.

The Council has kept the application process free of charge, but residents will be responsible for providing the appropriate signage and marshalling the closure. There would be no need for cars parked on the road to be removed. Residents should however be aware that if a bus stop is located on the road, it is unlikely that the application will be approved.

Residents thinking of applying should go to: http://www.reading.gov.uk/residents/community-and-living/play-streets/ to download a form or phone 0118 937 3948. The deadline for applications is July 12.

The earliest that a Play Street is likely to be able to be held is 2 September 2013. This is to allow for sufficient time to assess the application, and write and advertise the legal orders. This process is a legal requirement to allow the closure of the road(s) for the duration of the Play Street.