Organise a Play Streets session
Play Streets sessions allow groups of neighbours to temporarily close off their road so that children can play safely outside their homes and neighbours can get together.
The sessions typically last for up to 2 hours and have many benefits, including:
- encouraging children to play outdoors
- allowing adult neighbours to connect and interact
- promoting healthy living
- bringing communities together
Find out more about Play Streets on the Playing Out website and the Play Streets Bucks Facebook group.
How to apply for a Play Streets session
To hold a Play Streets session you need to apply for a Temporary Play Streets Order (also known as an Events Road Closure Order).
The order gives you permission to close your road for the purpose of children’s play. The road will be closed to vehicles but stay open to all pedestrians.
You should submit an application, risk assessment and method statement at least 8 weeks before your planned Play Streets session. This allows us to process the application and carry out any training.
To request an application form, or for help completing it email [email protected].
If you have any questions about the application process, our friendly team can help.
Risk assessment and method statement (RAMS)
You must submit a completed risk assessment and method statement with your application.
Before you submit you should carefully read both templates and familiarise yourself with the details. Play Streets stewards will need to have a clear understanding of all the points.
Carrying out a risk assessment will ensure that you're prepared for any issues that arise.
The method statement should set out your approach for closing the road.
You should also have a contingency plan in place in case of accidents, medical emergencies or fire.
View the Event Safety Guide created by the Health and Safety Executive for further guidance.
After you've applied
We aim to respond to your application within 28 days and will let you know if your road is suitable for a session. Play Streets are more suited to smaller roads and cul-de-sacs and cannot be carried out on main roads.
If your application is successful, you will need to consider these areas when organising your Play Street session:
As the Play Streets Session organiser, it’s your responsibility to make sure you have enough volunteer stewards to support you and manage the road closure.
Certain vehicles are permitted access but this is carefully controlled by the stewards, who will require training by Transport for Buckinghamshire.
It's your responsibility to leave the site in a clean and tidy condition. This includes litter that may be blown beyond the site boundary.
More details can be found on the application form.
Public Liability Insurance (PLI) of no less than £10 million is recommended for a Play Streets event. 1 day's cover can be purchased for a nominal fee from an insurance provider of your choice.
PLI is for the benefit of the organisers. Organisers must accept the inherent risk of liability in the event of an incident if they choose not to take out PLI.
A copy of your PLI Certificate is required should you choose to take this cover.
If PLI is not taken out and any loss or damage is caused during your road closure, the event organiser will be liable for any costs and you will need to sign the waiver on the application form to confirm that you are aware of this.
Play Streets sessions are a great way to bring your neighbours together, but you need to tell everyone living in your road and give them a chance to respond.
On the Playing Out website there are examples of how to engage with your neighbours.
You will need to send out a letter to everyone living on the road as part of the application process. We will include a template for this letter when we send your application form.
Not everyone will wish to be part of the Play Streets session, so ensure that everyone is told what is happening and where.
When you complete your application form you will need to tell us about any proposed road closure points. This allows us to consider diversions for traffic.
As the event organiser, you're also responsible for setting up road closure signs and barriers and removing them after the event. This signage should be placed at all closure points and should cover the width of the road. This is a legal requirement to keep event participants and road users safe.
You must also display posters giving notice of the road closure at least 2 weeks before the event.
We may be able to provide road closure signage, barriers and hi-vis jackets to support your Play Streets session. Further details are included on the application form.
If we accept the application for a road closure we will get in touch with the emergency services on your behalf.
However, you will still need to ensure that emergency service vehicles have access to the site with a minimum of 3.5 meters width available for them to get through.
Contact us
Further information is available from our Road Space Management Team. You can contact them by:
- email: [email protected]
- phone: 01296 383 848
Play Streets are being delivered under the council’s flagship ‘Opportunity Bucks’ programme, which aims to ensure that all Buckinghamshire residents have opportunities to succeed and flourish.