Motorway playspace

Children using a playspace under the motorway (the Western Avenue extension) in North Kensington in July 1968. Conditions in North Kensington in the 1960s were difficult with poor accommodation, largescale overcrowding and few open spaces. In 1966 the land had been cleared for the building of the motorway and the children and their parents of the London Free School had spontaneously begun to use the space for play. The North Kensington Playspace Group was formed to campaign to make the space permanent. An architect drew up designs for the area and plans were submitted to the Greater London Council. The playspace was opened for the summer holidays at the beginning of August by Sir Laurence Lindo, High Commissioner for Jamaica.