Recently we were bemoaning the prevalence of puffins on our street. This week we’re still on a street theme with a new report from the charity Living Streets – No ball games here (or shopping, playing or talking to the neighbours). Living Streets the national charity that stands up for pedestrians is a sprightly 80 this year. It’s celebrated with a new look and a new report comparing the experience and use of streets over three generations.
 

Among the reports findings are that people now know less than two of their neighbours, where their grandparents knew at least 5, whilst 49% of today’s children walk to primary school in comparison to 92% of our 65 year olds in their youth. Local shops and street play have also been decimated along the way claims the report backed up with evidence from Play England, the Children’s Society and the Department for Transport amongst others.

The explosion of car ownership from 2 million in 1934 to over 28 million today is cited as a primary cause but there’s grief in here for urban designers and bureaucrats as well – charging residents exorbitant fees to shut off their streets for parties and threatening dark implications of public liability insurance for even the simplest of organised events. Now far be it from PM! to criticise our urban designers – a relatively young profession in every sense that probably enjoys walking to school more than most. Planningblog on the other hand argues that the report oversimplifies the modern relationship with the car for better or worse.

With the footie season kicking off it’s no surprise that it’s easier to stay in with Sky Sports than actually go outside and play the game itself. Places Matter! is hosting five events across the coming Autumn / Spring looking at issues raised in the Department for Transport’s publication Manual for Streets – details available from the PM! website shortly.
 
Have a good week

Annie Atkins
PM! Programme Director