Article on at the moment (radio 4). Close the road, let the children play together outside.
One step towards liveable streets...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Woman's Hour: Close street to let children play!
(15 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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It's something I remember from growing up. We just played in the streets. Even where it's possible (our street is reasonably quiet) they just don't seem to do that as much these days...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Here (Slateford Green, a car-free area), the children do still spend all evening running around and playing together! (and being yelled at to come in for dinner every evening :).
Posted 13 years ago # -
There even used to be Play Streets in Edinburgh.
There was one in Dalry with signs up until relatively recently.
Not that anyone paid attention...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Backgreens serve similar purpose in the tenements around us. Playing out works best if the streets aren't lined with parked cars. Can't see us encouraging kids to play on the street without parking removed; there's also a bad corner. Kids do 'play out' in the cul-de-sac near by, where neither of these were issues.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Here (Slateford Green, a car-free area), the children do still spend all evening running around and playing together! (and being yelled at to come in for dinner every evening :)."
:) That makes me happy, I thought that had all but disappeared these days!
Posted 13 years ago # -
I always recall being told that, before you name your child, you should think if it's a name you'll be happy yelling in the street to get the bairn back in for its dinner.
In my family tree, due to naming traditions and number of family members in the one street, there were about 6 ( or maybe 8, have to check) folk with the same first name at the same time. That must have caused chaos when dinner time came ( and it was a very unusual first name...)
Posted 13 years ago # -
yes, I would think that yelling 'pocopiglet' would have a very interesting effect :)
Posted 13 years ago # -
There is one near Chesser and it has very big signs up.
They could easily close Harrison Gardens as Harrison Road and Ashley Terrace are linked top and bottom by Slateford and Polwarth Terrace, also Ogilvie Terrace can be reacehed from the top of Ashley Terrace.
Hmmm I might even suggest that to my local councillors, I think Gavin Corbett would be interested at leastThen again there is a ruddy great big park so really a bit pointless...
Posted 13 years ago # -
My sister organised a playing out in her street in London - lots of work (you have to get about 90% of the street to agree to the road closure) but worth it, and builds a sense of community to boot. Even now, she can't walk down the street without stopping to chat to two or three people she didn't know before (this is London remember). Most residents moved their cars for the day so the middle of the street was reasonably clear. A few people grumbled that they couldn't use their favourite rat run, and I think two absolutely insisted that they had to drive down the street and park outside their house, but the rest just happily joined in the party. It wasn't quite the informal playing in the street that we remembered from the 70s but the kids were a lot less supervised than they normally would be by the adults (they even *gasp* forgot to put sunscreen and sunhats on them) and there was a nice mix of adults, teenagers, kids and babies all happily milling around by the end.
Definitely recommended if you can stand the organisation involved
Posted 13 years ago # -
"yes, I would think that yelling 'pocopiglet' would have a very interesting effect :)"
Yes, we had to rethink calling the bairns Crackling and Scratchings ;)
Actually the first name concerned was Livingstone and it started out in 1780.
Posted 13 years ago # -
ahhh. I know someone called 'Starr' and one called 'Desia' (short for ....). different families, same part of the world.
Posted 13 years ago # -
On naming... my mother always promises that if she ever gets dogs she is going to call them Fire and Help. Can't see how that could end badly.
And did you know that all dogs also have a secret name? "Biscuits". They come every time...Posted 13 years ago # -
We live in a cul de sac. I'd love some sort of road traffic reduction as cars fly up and down turning at the end just where we live. It also bugs me the number of houses with a drive yet with cars parked on the street. Cars on the street just obsqure the view of childrem playing.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was at a Barbie with my three progeny last Saturday night on the roundabout at the end of crossword crescent, Balerno gala day. Excellent as ever, if a bit cold. Whole proclaimers oeuvre, bunting, baron de ley Rioja with tortilla followed by rivesaultes red puddin wine and summer fruits. cop yer whack for this Tarquin.
From 1975 to 1977 I played a game of Kerbsy on Braehead Ave, Lochwinnoch with my pal Derek. he won with score of 1,999,999 to my score of 1,999,998. the odd car came past but the drivers understood the rules of Kerbsy.
Posted 13 years ago #
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