Those who met earlier in the year to discuss a possible 'street play' day in Devonshire Road have been continuing their efforts over the spring. Most of the houses in the street will have had someone knock on their door in March/April looking for their consent for the street to be closed. Thankfully, the surveyors received overwhelming support for both the closure of the road for this one afternoon, but also for the principle of closing the street to let our kids play. Indeed, further help from the residents has been forthcoming.
We have since satisfied the Council of the residents' consent to close the street, and our application has been approved, so in principle, the day is on!!
We have since reconvened the small group of residents to discuss things in a little more detail. We have volunteers to steward the street and explain the road closure to people using the street on the day. We have a list of (largely) free activities that we'll look to organise in the street in some more detail - this includes face painting, arts, some races and some games. We'll be looking to divide the street up to accommodate these and ensure that age groups are generally kept distant (i.e. toddlers away from the teenagers). We've also approached our local ward councillors with a view to applying to some funding from the Enfield Residents' Fund, wich exists for community endeavours just like ours. Funding would cover some of the basic materials and some of the administrative fees we're having to look at spending.
The residents will have a further small meeting at the beginning of June. Anyone who wants to help or come to that meeting (on June 2) let me know (bethsaysboo@gmail.com). Anyone desperate to volunteer time, or games, chairs, blankets, trampolenes.... also please let us know. Thanks.
