Streets closed to mark World Car Free Day

Temporary closures were in place for several hours to allow traditional street games, fun activities, arts and crafts, cycling repairs, as well as offering information about dealing with air pollution.

World Car-Free Day encourages drivers to give up their cars for 24 hours and reminds people of the joy of a traffic-free environment. It also encourages people to walk and cycle and offers communities an opportunity to come together and for children to play on their own streets in safety.

Nine Newham streets were closed to through traffic. They were:

• Lens Road and Dorset Road, Upton Park, from 12-2pm;
• Warrior Square, Manor Park, from 2-5pm;
• Hastings Road, Canning Town, from 1-4pm;
• Richford Road, Stratford, from 12-3pm;
• Broadway, Stratford, from 11am-2pm;
• Kingsford Square, Beckton, from 12-3pm;
• Masterman Road, East Ham, from 12-4pm;
• Tylney Road, Forest Gate, from 12-2pm;
• Dongola Road to Khartoum Road, Plaistow, from 1-5pm.

Councillor Mas Patel, Commissioner for Air Quality and Climate Change, and Cabinet members Julianne Marriott and Zulfiqar Ali, were among those enjoying the activities in local streets.

Councillor Patel said: “Poor air quality in Newham was directly responsible for 96 deaths in the borough last year alone! This can't be right. We also have the highest rates of asthma and bronchitis in London. Working with all our diverse communities we want to clean up Newham's air and save people's lives. This is a public health emergency, so as part of our plan of action, we want to encourage cleaner transport and more active lifestyles. Walking, cycling and using non-carbon forms of transport will help improve poor air quality.

"By restricting vehicles down our side streets, even for one day, showed how much better things can be with children and young people enjoying fun and games in a safe environment. I'm clear that action must take place to improve the air we breathe, look after our environment and save the planet. We'll only do that by working together."

You don’t have to wait until the next World Car Free-Day if you want to enjoy some play activity in your street. Newham Council supports residents throughout the year to reclaim their street from traffic, by closing residential roads to through vehicles, turning them into temporary Play Streets on specific days.

Residents, parents, guardians and neighbours, can all apply to have their streets closed to traffic for up to four hours during the day, allowing children to enjoy supervised play in the public space close to their homes. To find out more, visit communityneighbourhoods@newham.gov.uk​