Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to launch the Playing Out scheme

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will be introducing a temporary road closure scheme to allow children to play in the streets where they live.

The Playing Out scheme will enable streets which are not main roads or bus routes to be closed to through traffic for up to three hours at a time.

Residents who are interested in taking part in the scheme would need to get the agreement of their neighbours, find and train volunteer stewards to man the road closure points and carry out a risk assessment. Parents remain responsible for their own children.

The scheme was approved at the Community and Wellbeing Committee on 10 October 2023 and will launch in December 2023.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee, said: “More than 90 local authorities have introduced the Playing Out scheme in their areas, and I’m really pleased to see this initiative come to Epsom and Ewell.

“We believe the scheme will help support the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of children and the community by creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone to play in and by fostering a much needed sense of neighbourliness.”