Plan to close roads so children can play outside
Residents can apply to close their roads for between one and three hours
- Published
People living on quiet streets in Bradford will be able to apply to have their roads temporarily closed to traffic in a bid to get children more active.
The new Play Streets initiative aims to tackle the problem of inactivity in many of the district’s children, with a recent study having found nearly two thirds of youngsters in some areas were not getting enough exercise.
The scheme, run by Bradford Council, will allow residents living on residential streets or cul-de-sacs to apply to close their streets for between one and three hours so that children can safely spend more time outside.
The council says the sessions could also provide a chance to bring neighbours together and bring a sense of community spirit.
A study by the Born in Bradford research programme found 64% of nine and 10-year-olds were not getting their recommended amount of daily exercise and spent up to 70% of their day sitting down, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Councillor Sue Duffy, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families and Living Well, said: “There is a real need in Bradford to create more opportunities for our children to play outside as this has huge, long-term benefits to their physical health and mental wellbeing.”
The launch initiative follows a successful pilot scheme at two separate streets.
Residents and communities who wished to hold a Play Street session should begin by speaking to their neighbours to gather support and find the most convenient dates and times for the sessions to take place, the council said.
They can then apply on the Bradford Council website.
The local authority said it would typically take around four weeks to process an application and once approved, "road closed" signs and cones would be provided.
To minimise disruption, residents would still be allowed vehicle access to and from their homes during the Play Street session.
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