Children and parents play in the street. Pic: Lansbury Lawrence Primary
Two Poplar streets were temporarily turned into a play street for local children this week to demonstrate the benefits of traffic reduction and creative play.
Bygrove and Ricardo Streets, in Poplar, were closed between 2.30 and 5.30pm in order to host fun activties and an area for ‘playtime’ for the children at nearby Lansbury Lawrence Primary.
The streets themselves surround the entrance to the school, meaning no major transport disruption occurred and residents were still able to get to access to their houses.
The event was an attempt to demonstrate the benefits of a reduction in traffic outside schools and how the space can be used for the creativity of young children living in the area. The pilot event could lead to similar streets at many more local schools.
One of the pupils at Lansbury Lawrence even hand wrote a letter to explain to residents in the area why they were closing the street, complete with coloured-in drawings of people explaining the benefits of hosting the event.
Notice poster by year 5 student. PIC: https://www.poplarharca.co.uk/mediareleases/‘play-street’-outside-lansbury-lawrence-primary-school
Alison Litherland, play street officer for Tower Hamlets, told EastLondonLines: “The event was filled with smiling faces and many parents remarked that it was great to see the community come together.”
Linguistics teacher, Lydia Elliott, who works in a nearby school, Cyril Jackson Primary said she hoped the ‘play street’ becomes an event that other schools in the area catch onto: “I definitely think the example set by Lansbury Lawrence means that neighbouring schools will start to do the same. Even if just one per term would make a huge difference in achieving a healthier and safer environment outside our schools.”
Most parents at the event responded positively to the idea of a regular street closure to make way for a ‘play street’ event.
Litherland added: “We will be supporting other schools to hold similar one-off street parties.”
