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Modern towns 'exclude children' from public

Towns built for the convenience of 'the car and the shopping trip' are anti-social to children and exclude them from their communities, according to a new report commissioned by Play England.

The report, published this week by think-tank Demos, said the Government must rethink the planning of towns and cities to prevent children from being segregated out of public areas. It found that trends in Britain point towards less outdoor play, an increasing reliance on private transport, more parental anxiety and less freedom for children and young people.

Recommendations in Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the public realm with children and young people include 20mph speed limits in residential areas and building iconic play spaces in high profile locations to challenge expectations of where play can take place.

The research was conducted via a series of interviews with young people, professionals and policymakers in six areas of the UK over nine months.

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