For this year's Car Free Day, we are inviting residents to host a one-off play street over the weekend of Friday 22 September to Sunday 24 September 2023.

Residents who want to transform their road into a Play Street on Car Free Day this year can close the road for free and apply for free play equipment.

Car Free Day

Around half of London’s air pollution is caused by road transport. Air pollution can reduce the length and quality of residents’ lives. About 240,000 children in London have asthma and around one-third of cases are linked to air pollution.

We’ve declared a climate emergency in Barnet and have put sustainability at the heart of everything we do to ensure we become a net zero borough by 2042. Car Free Day provides a great opportunity to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles and promote better air quality.

Car Free Day is an annual event designed to encourage families to come together and enjoy a range of outdoor community celebrations with the focus on play and neighbourhood get-togethers.

Play Streets

Play streets are resident-led short road closures, creating a safe space for children to play freely together on their doorstep.

In March 2023 we launched a 6-month pilot play street scheme in two locations in Barnet - Leopold Road, East Finchley, and Lodge Lane, North Finchley, working alongside residents and Councillors. More information on play streets is available here: What are play streets? - Playing Out

Apply now

If you wish to host a one-off play street for Car Free Day, you will be required to apply for a road closure. To do this, you should:

• Engage your neighbours to seek agreement
• Consider the type of road i.e., bus route/main roads would not be appropriate
• Complete the Street Party application on the council's website here: Street parties and special events | Barnet Council

Deadline for applications to be submitted is 18 August 2023.

And there's more...!

Swap your car for a Spacehopper

London Play is encouraging people to take part by running its Swap your Car for a Spacehopper campaign – providing free play equipment like spacehoppers, toys and games to the first 100 streets that get in touch. Find out more about the London Play Car Free Day initiative here: Car Free Day 2023 – Play Streets (londonplaystreets.org.uk).