Playing Football on Road

[homeguard]

Where do we stand regarding kids playing football in the road. The Housing Association we rent from did have a sign-up prohibiting ball games. This became weather beaten and I asked for a replacement sign at a meeting for residents in 2008. The painters came to paint the fences and the sign was painted over. Due to problems with the amount of kids holding a football game on the thin strecth of road along our cul de sac, we again asked for a replacement sign. The response is they dont think it is possible. Can they do this? If they had a sign there previous and we do have photos of its exsistance, are they not liable?

[albaqwerty]

is it a private road?
if not, children can play there.

[homeguard]

It is an housing association complex. The road where we live is a cul de sac. Mirrors were put up my the association because where we live it is a blind bend The road is approx the size of a single lane.

[Buenchico]

If the road is a public highway it might be worth having a word with your local community constable. referring him/her to Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-104566 7/Council-bosses-threaten-children-prosecution --playing-football-street.html

Or you can swap houses with me. On the cul-de-sac where I live there are frequent childrens' birthday street parties (not only for kids who live on the cul-de-sac but for their friends from nearby) and other events organised by some of the parents (including parties for the grown-ups). The street is filled with bouncy castles, children's toys, screaming kids and booze-filled adults, from lunchtime to midnight (and sometimes later). They always have some sort of sound system, often with a professional disco, topped off with late night fireworks.

It sounds rather quiet where you live ;-)

Chris

[Ice.Maiden]

Street football's dangerous from the point of view of balls forever flying into peoples' gardens, hitting windows, cars, greenhouses and so on, but if it was me, i'd prefer to see children playing in relative safety, next to their homes, than wandering off or not being able to play at all.
A friend of ours had her childrens' lives turned into a misery by neighbours who complained if they rode past on bikes, let alone if they fancied a kick-about.. This caused stress to the parents, because it seemed that the boys only had to leave their front gates and someone'd complain - even if they laughed too loudly.
Could your Tenants & Residents group try to come to an agreement with those on your street, whereby football's only allowed between certain times?

[ummmm]

And so many people complain that kids are stuck indoors playing computer games.......errrrr...because of people like you maybe.

Let them play ffs.

[gossipgirl]

i wanna live where you do buenchico sounds fab!

[homeguard]

From the replys I am receiving it seems I am the BAD MOANING OLD GRUMP! who needs to get a life. Can I point out where I live, I have two children one side, eight children the other side, next house there are six, house after there is one, then there are three, add onto these the friends they invite to play. Kids play bouncing ball, skipping, riding their bikes, generally running around, as children do, laugthing, shouting, screaming etc; NO I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CHILDREN PLAYING! I would worry if they did not. What I can not cope with is a full game of football outside my home, picture it? Its a small strip of road just after a bend, every child going for the ball. Kids are kids and do not care where the ball goes, they do not stop to let people get by. They shout, swear, spit get aggressive. Yes there is a field at the end of the cul de sac they could play in if housing association would admit it belongs to them and mow the grass so kids can play. Thank you to the one person who gave some positive advise, yes I will pursue talking to the police. AND BY THE WAT THE ADVICE I ASKED FOR WAS ARE THE ASSOCIATION LIABLE IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS NOW THE SIGN DOES NOT EXSIST AND HOW DO I STAND GETTING A NEW SIGN PUT UP.

[wilkesneil]

when i was a kid and we used to play footy on a field which was later having goal posts up, few months later no ball games signs so we had to play street football as our playing fields had been taken away from us. Kids aren't safe playing in parks with all the pervs and maniacs there so they feel safe in the cul-de-sac. The thing is what would you rather have
KIDS MAKIN A NOISE AND PLAYING FOOTY IN THE STREET
OR
KIDS RUNNING RAMPAGE AND TERAING UP THE NEIGHBOURHOOD FILLING THE RESIDENTS WITH TERROR.

[rabbitygirl]

I once lived in a cul de sac where the kids played football at the end of it, where we also had a green area. Yes, it caused a few problems, and the older residents didn't like it but as said here, at least you knew where they were.

Then, we had a new owner next door. She went totally overboard. A very unfriendly, rude woman who confiscated balls, permanently, screamed at our kids in the street, etc. making her thoroughly disliked by everyone. She obviously didn't like kids, nor most of the adults, and we wondered why, without kids, she bought a house in a street full of them.
One day official signs saying no ball games suddenly appeared on the green and screwed to the side of her house.

The street was mixed housing association and owned, with approx 75% owned. The owners didn't think the h.a. had the right to erect the signs without consulting us first. They agreed. And took them down. Football resumed (well, it hadn't actually stopped).

The new owner sold up. Btw... she was a teacher.....

[homeguard]

The point to my question was that the sign did exist and I w anted to know if this made the association liable? I think I have got the message on how you all think about me. I have asked to be moved from the home I love, have maintained and have abided to the associations policy regarding having repect for my neghbours etc; So as soon as the association rehouse the evil witch will be gone!

Personally I have no problem with children playing in the street, as long as they are safe, are not trespassing or causing damage or being a nuisance to other people or their property. It comes down to respect. I frequently see youngsters playing on the cul de sac, charging up and down, chasing one another, screaming with laughter, and it makes me smile. But I do have a problem with some one else's kids and older youths imposing their behaviour upon me, either by being abusive, noisey or damaging property.

The area by my home has a blind bend to traffic. Many vechiles are driven above the speed limit, and the parents of that child will be the first to blame a driver, whether they were driving above or below the speed limit, if their child is knocked down. I would hate for that to hapen to any child.