Transform your road into a play street to mark Clean Air Day this month by making a free application to close your road. You could even receive some free play equipment to help make your event more fun.

Play streets encourage children, adults, families, and neighbours to come together and enjoy a day or 2 of outdoor play on their road. The street is closed to general traffic to allow it to be used for play.

Clean Air Day takes place on Thursday 20 June but, to make the most of weekend play, residents can apply for a free 2 or 3-hour road closure on Saturday 22 or Sunday 23 June. During this time, only emergency vehicles and residents living on the street will be able to access the road at low speed.

Waiving road closure fees

Ealing Council is waiving road closure fees (usually £150) and making the application process as quick and easy as possible. Applicants will also receive a free play pack which includes posters to advertise the event, ‘playing out’ high-vis jackets for volunteers, ‘road closed’ wheelie bin stickers and chalk and skipping ropes to start your creative play session.

Residents can use their street for a variety of activities such as outdoor games, board games, scooter, bike, and trike play – the sky’s the limit.

Support council’s active travel plans

Encouraging residents to use their roads and streets in different ways supports the council’s active travel plans and supports reducing the number of vehicles on the road, reducing air pollution in the borough, and improving health and wellbeing. Ways of active travel include walking, running, scooting, jogging, cycling or trike-ing.

All streets can apply to take part, providing it isn’t a main road, bus route or emergency vehicle route. Apply on the council’s website by midday Wednesday 12 June. It is recommended that you have 4 volunteers to help support your play street.

For a range of play ideas, visit the London Play website.