It's child's play for plans to ban traffic on streets

“maxmin and stagedriver, I suggest you re-read the article before commenting next time.

The talk here is about closing off one end of a street, thus making it a cul-de-sac.

Motorists (including disabled/elderly/visitors) will still be able to park outside their destintion, they will just not be able to drive straight through.

That said, I do agree that parks are much better places for play than streets, even without traffic there are still parked cars to be damaged.”

“Good idea to turn more roads into cul de sacs as it reduces through traffic. Nevertheless as someone stated, roads are not play areas and are completely unsuitable these days when most homes have at least one car. Shows Swansea Council is still thinking its the fifties.
Nothing causes more aggro between neighbours than kids kicking balls into cars,lawns etc. Most houses have back gardens, but people don't maintain them as play areas. They tend to be either rubbish tips or manicured gardens, neither being suitable for kids to play on. People don't want their own gardens trampled over but quite happy for neighbours front gardens to become football pitches.”

“The proposal isn't to stop people driving down their own streets it's to stop who don't live on the street from using it as a thoroughfare during the evenings and on weekends. The big problem with this is it wont stop side streets being used as rat runs during rush hour, and you have to ask the question how many people use side streets in the evenings and on weekends when the main roads are quieter? More safer open areas for children to play in are needed not ill thought schemes like this.”

“Stagedriver - yes very good points!”

“Why close off streets, the children AND THEIR PARENTS already use some roads as play streets now with damage being done to parked vehicles and them running wild through gardens to recover balls etc.? Respect for others property is forgotten. There are suitable parks ,fields that can be used and are safe if the children are supervised. Why should the motorist ,disabled and visitors have to park away from where the vehicles cannot be seen and could easily be vandalized. Parents should look after their children and not let them run wild.”

“Children cannot 'reclaim' the streets they were never for their use in the first place. I am all for closing streets to allow children to use them as play areas, but I would be happier if they were closed permanently, dug up and grassed over. We could then call them 'parks'.

Mind you I bet the first people to complain will be the locals who will find that carrying a weeks shopping several hundred yards isn't as much fun as it sounds!

The best thing to protect children is to teach them that the streets are not extensions of playgrounds!”

“Some streets are used as rat runs and race tracks. I live just off Lon Enfys in Llansamlet. Lon Enfys itself is not a very busy road but we have some people with motorbikes and sports cars who occasionally enjoy speeding around the road, one motorcyclist regularly pulls wheelies as far as he can up the road.
My point is, some roads don't need to be closed to traffic but can be blocked off half way across or around which will discourage speeding and/or dangerous driving.
Lon Enfys is a prime example of this as it goes around in a circle. If this kind of thing was done on every suitable road it would surely free up those roads for children to play safely as only traffic going to houses would pass through, rogue drivers would look elsewhere for suitable race tracks.
I do agree with this initiative, it's about time something was done to protect our children.”