Residents and people who need to access the street can still drive on it. The closure simply stops through-traffic so that the street can be used as a social space.
How it works
Closing your street is straightforward, free, and anyone over 18 can apply.
You can ask to close all or part of a street to traffic:
- for a morning, afternoon, or the whole day (during daylight hours)
- as a one off or for more than one date, either on a regular or irregular basis
- for more than one street at a time
Ideas for street closures
Here are some ideas for events:
- host a street party to mark a historic or cultural celebration
- do something for Car Free Day or Clean Air Day
- set up a pop-up garden with movable planters and parasols
- host a ‘Big Lunch’
- share and swap: food, plants, clothes
- get active (exercise class, dance, yoga)
- organise music, art or street theatre
- set up a Dr Bike corner to fix those bike niggles
- close the street specifically for children to play – this is known as a Play Street
If you’re in any doubt about how a street closure would work where you live, contact us first to talk it through.
How to organise a street closure
Give yourself plenty of time to plan your event. Try to send us your application at least 4 weeks before your event.
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1. Contact us for a planning toolkit
Contact us to request a planning toolkit. This has everything you need to plan your event and apply for the road closure. The toolkit contains:
- a template letter to neighbours
- a template risk assessment
- a temporary road closure application form
- the terms and conditions for running your event
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2. Talk to your neighbours
You need to speak to everyone who is likely to be directly affected by the event in advance. How you go about this is up to you. Here are some suggestions:
- knock on doors and tell people what you’re thinking of doing and when, and ask them what they think
- send your neighbours a letter with details about what you’re thinking of doing
- set up a group on social media
- hold a meeting
The more people feel included, the more they’ll support you.
Objections
You should be able to answer most questions and solve any issues yourself. If someone has a concern you can’t resolve, please contact us and we will see what we can do to help.
If necessary, we might give you permission to hold a shorter ‘trial’ event, as this often helps to reassure people.
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3. Do a risk assessment
You need to think about what could go wrong at your event, and have plans for those circumstances.
You must:
- tell us about any potential hazards such as potholes, exposed wires and broken manhole covers on your application
- be able to clear the street quickly should an emergency vehicle needs to get in
- not do anything that could cause damage or be dangerous
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4. Apply for permission
Send your completed application form to us at least 4 weeks before your event. The form will ask for:
- details about the closure
- assurance that you’ve consulted your neighbours
- assurance that you’ve done a risk assessment
When the approval comes through, let neighbours know and remind them of the dates.
We recommend that you take out public liability insurance.Licences
We recommend that you get advice about whether you need any licences from us. As a general rule, you won’t need a licence if your event:
- is for residents/neighbours only
- is not publicised outside the neighbourhood
- will not sell alcohol - if you are thinking of selling alcohol you will need a temporary event notice
What happens next
We will consider your application and may inspect the site to make sure the road can safely be closed. We may need to consult with emergency services and bus operators.
If a road closure can happen safely, we will process a road closure order for your event. Notice of the order will be advertised onsite 2 or 3 days before the event.
We reserve the right to refuse an application if any objection from the emergency services, a resident or business remains unresolved. -
5. On the day
To close your street, you should place wheelie bins marked with official ‘Road temporarily closed’ stickers at each closure point. Once the street is closed, you can then set up.
We’d like you to use our free ‘Cone’ and ‘Streets for People’ stickers as well, but these are optional. Please contact us to arrange to pick your stickers up from Merrion House in Leeds before the event.
Volunteers
Each closure point must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. It helps if they wear high-vis jackets. They can explain why the road is closed and help people access the street safely if needed, but they do not have any legal powers to enforce the closure.
Vehicle access to the street
If someone needs access to the street, they should either drive at walking pace, escorted by a volunteer, or you may need to clear the street.
The safest approach will depend on the nature of your event, so you should think about how this will work when you are planning.
After the event
Please leave the street clean and tidy, and allow time to clear up. Once the closure time is over, move the wheelie-bins off the street.
Please encourage all people attending your street party to take their waste home with them and place in their green or black bin, recycling where possible.
Let us know how it goes
We’re keen to hear back from you about how things went, and so please let us know. We will use your feedback to improve our support and share your experience with others.
If you’re on Twitter, we’d love you to tag us on:
You should not close your street without permission and a legal order from us.
The bigger picture
Leeds wants to become a ‘city where you don’t need a car’. We want travel to be as safe, healthy and pleasant as possible for everyone, so that more people can choose to walk and/or cycle; this helps to cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and cut congestion.
Streets are the main public spaces in cities, and Streets for People provide fantastic opportunities for neighbourhoods to use streets as social spaces. They help people to connect, have fun, stay active and imagine what a city where you don’t need a car might be like to live in.
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