Fees waived to close your road for play on Car Free Day weekend
5 August 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Residents across Richmond upon Thames can apply to close their street to through-traffic for up to four hours on Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September 2026, as part of the borough's Car Free Day celebrations — and this year the council is again waiving the administration fee normally charged for road closure permits.
A Play Street closure gives children space to play outside with friends and neighbours, with the street temporarily reclaimed from passing vehicles. Any street can apply, as long as it is not a main road, bus route or designated emergency vehicle route.
Householders who want to organise one will need to canvass their neighbours for agreement, arrange supervision on the day, and ensure safe access is maintained for residents' own vehicles and emergency services if needed. The organisational responsibility sits with the applicants, not the council.
The deadline to apply is 4 September, so anyone interested should move fairly quickly — that's exactly a month away. Full guidance and the application form are available on the Richmond Council website.