PROPOSALS to create ‘play streets’ in the BCP Council area have been rejected as they do not fit the council's priorities for transport.

The ‘Playing Out’ website describes play streets (or ‘playing out’ sessions) as neighbour-led short road closures, creating a safe space for children to play freely together on their doorstep.

In practice, this means children cycle, scoot, skate, chalk, skip, hopscotch, kick a ball around and make up games.

This model was first developed by parents on a street in Bristol in 2009 and has now been taken up by hundreds of street communities all over the UK, supported by councils and local organisations.

Two pilot schemes have already taken place in the BCP area on Courthill Road in Poole and Burleigh Road in Southbourne.

Oakdale councillor Felicity Rice, who supports the initiative, said: “They are resident led, simple, cost nothing to the council once up and running and the government has written to the council in 2019 to ask councils to facilitate them.

“Normally, a simple form is completed, with a simple check list for officers to sign off (e.g. not on a bus route) and then that is it, residents do the rest.

“They attend a tutorial by ‘Playing out’, get permission from the residents on their street, and coordinate a time.

“At the event, an official sign is hung between wheelie bins at each end of the stretch of road, and residents are then free to chat/play/eat together.

“Any residents that do need vehicle access to their home at that exact time simply pauses at the temporary barrier and is then led at walking pace to their driveway.

“However, Cllr Mike Greene has blocked them in a paper, which is due to cabinet in September.”

Councillor Rice said she finds it "deeply upsetting" that a "voluntary and empowering scheme" is being blocked, adding that the council has said it "is not currently in a position to resource these requests at the moment".

“It is in keeping with all of the councils objectives in times of community, health, economy, climate change, environment, cleanliness," she said. "I would be grateful if Mike Greene could review his decision.”

Councillor Greene, BCP Council portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said the decision was not one for cabinet members to make and refuted claims made by Cllr Rice.

He said the decision on the scheme was made by director of transport and engineering Julian McLaughlin.

“I agree with officers," said Cllr Greene. "With all the other ambitions our council has for transport, this is not an initiative that I believe should be prioritised.

“This time last year the previous administration was closing roads all over the place with no consultation at all. Had it not been for the resistance put up by residents and some of us, they would have succeeded in closing many more, including our cliff tops.

“There may well be advantages in traffic restrictions around some suitably-located schools, and I hope these can be trialled in BCP. But the imposition of road closures for the benefit of just a very few does not fit my definition of fairness."