31/7/2009 - Playing it safe

Children will be offered hints and tips on road safety when a national event comes to Carlisle.

To celebrate National Play Day, sports, games, arts and crafts, messy play, den making and story telling are all going to be taking place at three locations across the city between 11am and 4pm on Wednesday (August 5) –at Bitts Park, the city centre and the skate park at the end of Devonshire Walk car park.

And to ensure youngsters get the message that play needs to be safe as well as fun, Cumbria Road Safety Unit are going to be on hand to provide advice to both children and parents about avoiding trouble on the roads. 

Cumbria has six road safety officers, employed by Capita Symonds, who work on behalf of the Safer Roads for Cumbria partnership.

The partnership made up of various organisations including Cumbria County Council, aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on the county’s roads. 

Promoted by the National Children’s Bureau, the theme for this year’s National Play Day is "Make Time" and is aimed at making people –from parents to teachers and others who work with youngsters - think about making time for children to play.

A host of activities, like those in Carlisle, will be taking place across the country. 

David Kerry, senior road safety officer for Cumbria, said: "It’s great the National Children’s Bureau have focussed on the fact that children need the space and time to enjoy themselves when they are under so much pressure to achieve nowadays.

"The road safety unit will be at Bitts Park offering advice to ensure playtime remains fun but that the dangers of traffic are not forgotten."

Admission is free and if the weather is bad the activities in Bitts Park will be moved into the Sands Centre.

As well as the road safety officer being on hand to talk to both children and parents, Face2Face, Cumbria Library Service, Barnardos, Tullie House and Cumbria Constabulary will be in attendance.

ENDS

Media enquiries to media officer John Ballard on 01228 226330