But what about the cars?!

On the whole, as I've been knocking on doors the last couple of weeks asking for signatures to support the road closure, the response has been really enthusiastic. Even people without kids have been keen to sign up, some going further and offering help on the day. I've lost count of the conversations that have ended, 'If there's anything I can do to help...' with someone I met for the first time three minutes earlier.

The only note of concern I've heard is: but where am I going to put my car?

Good question, and one I hope we'll come up with answers to at our next meeting on Thur 12th May... parking is tight in Palmers Green and we don't want anyone to have to park on a meter for the afternoon!

Interesting, though, how our cars have come to dominate the street. We all tend to think of the road as somewhere to drive and somewhere to park (except after the restrictions end at 6.30pm, in which case we go round the block five times til a space comes up). Yet 30 years ago, streets were a different place, where you were more likely to see children out playing on the pavement and neighbours chatting. 71% of us played on the street as kids, according to a 2007 poll by ICM, but how many of us let our own kids out nowadays? Streets have lost their multipurpose, community function and become the exclusive domain of the motor car, so that we have to hustle our children inside and shut the door.

It will be a pain in the neck finding parking on that Saturday in June, but maybe we'll see our street transformed for a few hours into something other than a traffic highway.

Mid-surveys

By now the surveyors will be out, knocking on the doors of the street, canvassing opinion on whether closing the road for an afternoon in late June is acceptable. This is needed so the Council can properly consider our application for the closure. Most of the people I have called upon have whole-heartedly embraced the idea, so it's good that the basic idea has some support.

For those surveying, we're after the surveys being complete in the next few days. Pass them back to Clare at number 41. Clare will also be sending round an email for a follow up meeting in mid-May - we'll need to discuss the set up of the day, the parking arrangements, stewarding and the like. You should get an email shortly.

Lastly, I've come across a few links that might give you some ideas for the day itself. Please feel free to investigate these and come back with your own suggestions.

http://www.roadwitch.org.uk/
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/liveable-neighbourhoods/diy-streets/diy-streets-resources-and-links
http://www.londonplay.org.uk/document.php?document_id=1198

Thanks.

About to survey

Hello street.  We're about to issue the survey packs to those of you who have kindly agreed to survey the residents on the street to get the signatures we need.  Remember, if there's to be support for the play day in June, which involves the closing of the street for the afternoon of June 25, we need the signatures of 90% of the households affected.

If you're not surveying, it means that you can expect someone knocking at the door and telling you about the event.  They should explain everything for you, and anything that's not answered for you can come back through the blog, or via Clare at 41, or Richard at 63.

Once we have the signatures we need, we'll forward the application to close the road to Enfield Council and start to plan the afternoon in some more detail.  The group of residents who meet a couple of weeks ago will assemble in early May - again, any comments welcome through the blog.