So, today I did an 11-mile tour (via NCN72 in part) of North Shields and Wallsend #playstreets, some very much defunct, some still signed but not really functioning.

I started with the Ropery Banks streets, linked by Borough Bridge - there were four #playstreets here, designated in June 1950, when the first such streets were established by the then Tynemouth Borough Council. No signs now but very quiet streets.

One of the streets designated - Shakespeare St - now no longer exists, and Addison St, Tennyson Terr and Trinity Street were almost completely redeveloped (though some older houses remain). Others were also slated for demolition in 1970s but survived. None are now #playstreets.

One of the few signs of children’s #streetplay that I spotted was this - one for @UrbanGoals too - there’s a football on the hedge at the left - I imagined this was waiting ready for a game, rather than a @Lostfootballs

Victoria Street was also established as a #playstreet in 1950. I hope it was more residential - and inviting - then!

The Triangle - a set of streets between Howdon Rd and Waterville Rd - was pretty much designated as #playstreets in 1950 - this area become a #homezone in the early 2000s so the streets are calmed and vehicle access restricted, but there are no signs of children playing.

A couple of other streets round here were mooted for #playstreets but later removed from the borough’s list. One other street was a play street - Wilson Street - but I can not find it on any present-day or historic maps. I suspect it was near the demolished Shakespeare St.

Next, I whizzed over to Wallsend via shipyards and viaducts and NCN72

To a set of streets just south of Wallsend High Street, Myrtle, Ash & Willow Grove, designated as #playstreets in 1963. They are still #playstreets - yay! - but there are no signs of children playing and a couple of residents I spoke to said they never see children playing - boo!

But! They have this well-provisioned and exciting playground!

These streets are over the road from Richardson Dees School; I wonder if they’re might be a real opportunity to recreate streets for children and their communities here. Some adjacent streets have more recent filters on, reducing and calming traffic.

Douglas Street, also in Wallsend, is a little #playstreet all on its own. Still has its sign, don’t know when it was designated, as far as I can tell none of its neighbours ever were.

Rae Avenue, on the northern edge of Wallsend, leads to two schools, a sports ground and a country park - no idea when it was designated either, but someone playful still seems to live on it.

All of the remaining signs I saw say “8am to sunset”; the timings changed a lot as different streets were designated.

I have seen others saying “sunrise to sunset” and I like the thought of children playing from 4am in the summer. Our council clearly thought differently!

En route I spotted a few of these too - it seems like the #playstreets signs and the #noballgames signs mark two crucial points in the ways we’ve imagined - and enabled - children’s play on our streets over the years. Perhaps now is the time for another statement.

I saw not one single child #playingout on my route. It is December but it was dry and sunny all day. Some streets were very very quiet, car-wise, but still no children playing.

I have no idea if this is of any interest to anyone but me, but if it is, let me know!

Thanks to everyone who gave me leads on North Tyneside #playstreets, especially @salawatson.

I’m sure these streets aren’t the whole story. I’m doing lots of thinking about all of this and hope to write something longer and more thoughtful sometime...