Play in the street? Fill in a form and get insurance

THEY are the back streets where generations of sporting greats first honed their football skills.

But an attempt in the North East of England to return to the days when children could kick a ball around outside have fallen foul of health and safety zealots.

The Play Streets scheme was launched on Saturday in Newcastle upon Tyne in a bid to improve children’s health.

The idea is to allow residents to close streets for up to three hours so children can play games without worrying about traffic – perhaps in the hope of following football idols from the region such as Alan Shearer, Bobby Charlton and Jackie Milburn.

But horrified parents say city council bureaucrats have scuppered the scheme by imposing impossible conditions. Anyone wanting to hold a play session has to submit a six-page application form at least eight weeks in advance.

All residents must be approached for their written agreement and sessions must be supervised by adults wearing high-visibility jackets. Marshals must be stationed at every entry point, with road signs and cones provided by the council put up at specified locations.

Organisers must also carry out a risk assessment and are advised to obtain public liability insurance of at least £5million. And every road closure must be advertised in the local press and on the street.

The Play Streets scheme will run until October before being reviewed.

On Newcastle’s Grange Estate, where former England captain Shearer learnt to kick a ball, locals were far from impressed.

Retired builder Alan Wilson, 68, said: ‘It’s a good idea but typical that they have created such a palaver. They’re just kids playing out. They’ve tied it up in red tape.’

Mother-of-one Sarah Manning, 21, said: ‘They’ve come up with a good idea and then they mess it up by making life hard for the people who want to do it.’

Defending the scheme, Arlene Ainsley, council cabinet member for transport, said: ‘Being able to play in your street with friends is an important part of childhood but often parents are understandably concerned about road safety. It’s not just about the children – adults can join in too.’