"Playing Out" comes to Acton
Goldsmith Avenue saw its first "playing out" session last Saturday - a two hour road closure which means kids can play in the street and their parents and other neighbours can meet for a chat and tea & cake.We were lucky/pushy enough to be the Ealing Council pilot for the scheme which has run successfully in Bristol and a couple of London Boroughs.The aim is to increase community and childrens' activity and decrease obesity and isolation by holding regular sessions. But you have to have the co-operation of the council, otherwise the charges to close the road are wholly unaffordable. We were quoted £1400 for an annual license but the council waived that - and provided a pack of useful stuff, and launch goodies such as Dr Bike and cycle smoothies. The Goldsmith Avenue sessions will be monthly initially - I rather hope more often by next summer - and we also hope Ealing thought it successful enough - more than 40 kids were cycling, scootering, chalking, just having fun, by the end - that officers will find a way to roll it out across the borough. The next playing out session is on October 10th from 1500 - 1700.
Sara Nathan ● 4746d14 Comments