Information meeting on how to organise a playing out session on your street. Contains current developments and barriers.

1. Edinburgh Playing Out
Public Meeting
7.30pm Tuesday 9 February 2016
City Chambers, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

2. Introduction Claire Wheeler, Edinburgh Playing Out 7.30pm
Our Vision Louise Drumm, Edinburgh Playing Out 7.40pm
Memories of Outdoor Play Margaret Wilson and friend 7.45pm
Why We Like to Play Outdoors Lucy and Katie Topley 7.50pm
Where We Are Now and
Stumbling Blocks
Edinburgh Playing Out Caroline Phipps-Urch 8.00pm
Scottish Government’s Position Deborah Gallagher 8.05pm
Playing Out – the Way Forward Thomas Lynch, Edinburgh Playing Out 8.10pm
Plans for Playing Out Weekend
9/10 April and How to Achieve
Your Street Closure
Thomas Lynch, Edinburgh Playing Out 8.15pm
Question and Answer Claire Wheeler, and Edinburgh Playing Out 8.25pm
Thanks and Finish 8.45pm

3. Written question lodged at the Scottish Parliament
by Alison Johnstone (MSP) on 8th February 2016
• ‘To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to allow
children to be able to regularly play out on the streets where they
live.’
• ‘To ask the Scottish Government if it has plans to publish guidance for
local authorities who may seek to make repeated road closures to
allow for repeated playing out on streets.’

4. City of Edinburgh Council 19 November 2015
Motion by Green Group, Title: Playing Out
This Council:
Welcomes the initiative ‘Playing Out’ to temporarily close individual roads to traffic in residential
areas on a recurring basis to allow children’s play and notes the success of this initiative South of
the border;
Notes the contribution that this initiative is reported to have in facilitating contact between
neighbours and building community cohesion;
Recognises the significant interest from different groups of parents in various areas of Edinburgh in
playing out;
However, notes the regulatory hurdles encountered in obtaining permission, the prohibitive cost
and the practicalities of closing roads for more than a one-off occasion;
Understands that dialogue with the Scottish Government to clarify guidance around the law relating
to playing out may be useful in taking the intiative forward in Scotland; and therefore
Supports the Transport Convenor Cllr Lesley Hinds and the Play Champion Cllr keith Robson in their
ongoing efforts to find a way to facilitate playing out in Edinburgh.
Moved by Steve Burgess
Seconded by Melanie Main

5. “We want Scotland to be the best place to
grow up. A nation which values play as a
life-enhancing daily experience for all our
children and young people; in their homes,
early learning and childcare settings,
schools and communities.”
Scottish Government Play Strategy
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and
Young People (2013)

6. United Nation Convention on the Rights of
the Child
In 2013, General Comment 17 on Article 31 of the United Nation
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) clarified governments’
obligations to:
‘promote, protect and fulfil’ children’s right to play by means of appropriate
‘legislation, planning and budgets’
(Governments..) “need to create time and space for children to engage in
spontaneous play, recreation and creativity, and to promote societal attitudes
that support and encourage such activity.”
UNCRC General Comment 17

7. Galas And Events Affecting Public Roads - Guidance To
Organisers (2005) Scottish Government
• “Public Notification of the proposed closure will normally be given by
publication of a notice in at least one local paper.”
• “Roads Traffic Regulation (Special Events) Act 1994 s.16B (6) restricts orders
to 1 per calendar year for any section of road unless the order has been
made by the Scottish Executive or is made with the consent of the Scottish
Executive.”
• “There are also costs associated with traffic management which may include
the placing of advance information signs, placing of cones and barriers,
signing of alternative routes”
• “It is for each local authority to determine if and under what circumstances
they will either recharge or waive all or part of these costs. Typical
circumstances for reducing or waiving costs may be where the event is
either community led, is non profit making…”
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/07/14155315/53182

8. Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
16B Restrictions on orders under s. 16A.
(6)Where an order has been made under section 16A of this Act in any calendar
year, no further order may be made under that section in that year so as to
affect any length of road affected by the previous order, unless the further
order—
(a)is made by the Secretary of State as the traffic authority for the road
concerned; or
(b)is made with his consent.

9. Roads (Scotland) Act 1984
62 Temporary prohibition or restriction of traffic etc. on roads for
reasons of public safety or convenience.
(1)Where, as regards any road, an order [F1 can be made under neither section
14 nor section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (temporary
prohibition or restriction of traffic and foot passage on roads in certain
circumstances and in connection with certain events)] but in the opinion of the
roads authority considerations of public safety or convenience require, or make
it desirable that there should be, a temporary restriction on, or temporary
prohibition of, traffic or foot passage on the road, the authority may make an
order imposing such restriction or prohibition and (where practicable)
specifying an alternative route or alternative routes.

10. Over to you
• Have you signed our sign-up sheet?
• Talk to your neighbours and hold a Playing Out afternoon on the
weekend of 9/10 April
• Take photographs and share on our Facebook Page
• Let us know you are doing it
• Can you help the Edinburgh Playing Out campaign? Join our group
• Contact your councillor and MSP – let them know you want regular
Playing Out sessions that are free of charge to communities
Let’s get Edinburgh Playing Out in 2016

11. Contact us
Blog Edinburgh Playing Out
Facebook: Edinburgh Playing Out (Facebook)
Twitter: @EdinPlayingOut
Email: edinburghplayingout@gmail.com