Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will publish further guidance to local authorities advising them of the benefits of street play for children and of the powers that local authorities have to permit road closures in residential areas for that purpose.

The Department for Transport has no plans to publish guidance on Play Streets. It is for local authorities to decide whether or not to implement road closures.

Specific legislation covering Play Streets is provided in section 29 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This enables local authorities to close roads for the purposes of street play, through a Traffic Regulation Order. This must be indicated on street with appropriate traffic signs.

Local authorities may also close roads under Section 16a of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, but this legislation covers special events, rather than specifically street play. An order under this section may only be made three times a year. Any subsequent orders must be approved by the Secretary of State.