After a trial play street policy which ran during the summer of 2016, Lewes District Council decided in September 2016 to extend this policy throughout their area. Residents in towns and villages across the district can apply to close their streets for play for up to three hours a fortnight, within daylight hours.

Cllr Tony Nicholson, Lead Member for Customers and Partners at Lewes District Council said at the time of the trial,

“Following a request from residents in Lewes interested in running regular playing out sessions in their street, we want to make it easy for parents and neighbours to apply to close their road and turn it into a play out area. I’m sure people can remember the benefits of playing out in the street many years ago and the strong community spirit it fostered between neighbours and parents. By running this trial for a few months throughout the summer, with the help of parents and neighbours who have requested street play in their road, we will be able to devise a process that works for all.”

The Sussex Express carried an article about the pilot and BBC Radio Sussex covered the story in September (second part of the interview here) and interviewed a Lewes resident who is a keen supporter of street play. You can read more about the street play policy and download the application form on the Lewes District Council  website.