Everyone loves a street party but too often we wait years for a good excuse, like the Queen’s jubilee or the Olympics.
This man is on a mission to change that and help you reclaim the streets of Hounslow from cars on a more regular basis.
Barry O’Donovan works part time for London Play, which campaigns for more play space for children across the capital.
He wants a return to the days when children could let their imaginations run wild in the streets and play freely without fear of cars.
The 54-year-old father-of-three, who also works part time as a supply teacher, has already helped communities across London get together on the streets outside their homes; now he wants to do the same for neighbours in Hounslow through London Play's Street Play Project.
“We all bemoan the lack of play space for children and the fact we used to be able to play outside a lot more,” he said.
“With the Street Play Project, parents can let their children out of the front door knowing there are no cars to worry about and there’s a barrier manned by a volunteer at each end of the road.
“People say children only want to play on their computers, but that’s just down to a lack of opportunities to play outdoors.
“This isn’t just about young people either. It’s about bringing people of all ages together and helping them get to know one another.”
Mr O’Donovan has been invited into the borough by Hounslow Council to help people apply for their streets to be closed to traffic for a few hours at a time.
That could be for a traditional street party, complete with bunting and tables piled high with food, but there are myriad other possibilities.
In other boroughs, activities have included chalk drawing, a water pistol fight and a tug of war, to name just a few.
How regularly streets are closed to traffic and for how long will be up to those living there, said Mr O’Donovan, who is particularly keen to hear from people in some of the borough’s more deprived neighbourhoods, including Feltham, Hanworth, Heston and, in particular, the Brentford Towers estate.
For more information, email barry@londonplay.org.uk or call Mr O’Donovan on 0787 9372 321.
