Just after World War 2, my home suburb of Bootle in Liverpool had the first Play Street — Beatrice Street.
As the internet reveals, these were a product of the Street Playgrounds Act 1938. The aim was to provide safer streets to play in at a time when increasing numbersof vehicles were seen as a danger to children, especially in streets that had traditionally been used as play areas.
The sign reads: “Play Street — vehicles prohibited sunrise to sunset unless calling at premises in the street”. It was an offence for through traffic to use a play street during the prohibited hours.
There is a more modern sign still there, but apparently the kids no longer play in the streets!
