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Traffic in Richmond to Give Way to Children’s Play This September

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August 9, 2024
2 min read

Traffic in Richmond to Give Way to Children’s Play This September

Council Waives Fees for Closure of Roads to Traffic in Richmond for Play Streets to mark Car Free Day 2024

Councils across London are encouraging families to participate in Car Free Day this September by organising ‘Play Streets’. Many roads will be temporarily closed to traffic in Richmond, allowing children to enjoy outdoor play in their local areas.

Scheduled for the weekend of 21st – 22nd September, 2024, the initiative is part of a broader London-wide campaign supported by London Play and Transport for London (TfL).

To maximise participation, the council has announced it will waive the usual administration fees for road closures. This move aims to make it easier for residents to host Play Streets, where children can play safely with their friends, family, and neighbours without the concern of passing vehicles.

The Play Street programme aligns with the global celebration of World Car Free Day on 22 September, a day dedicated to reducing car usage and reclaiming urban spaces for community activities. This year, the focus is on creating safe, traffic-free zones in residential areas, particularly for young people.

London Play is further supporting the initiative by offering free spacehoppers and other play equipment to streets that sign up to participate. To host a Play Street, residents must secure permission for the road closure, consult with neighbours to address any objections, and take responsibility for organising and supervising the event. This includes ensuring access for emergency vehicles and residents’ cars if necessary.

Applications to host a Play Street must be submitted by 30th August, 2024. Richmond Council hopes that by removing financial barriers, more communities will seize the opportunity to create safe, fun spaces for children to play outdoors.