#trending: ‘Extreme’ or necessary? Woodlands HDB void deck cordoned off to stop kids playing football, draws mixed reactions from netizens
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/woodlands-void-deck-blocked-football-2315956
#trending: ‘Extreme’ or necessary? Woodlands HDB void deck cordoned off to stop kids playing football, draws mixed reactions from netizens
The void deck at Block 638 Woodlands Ring Road has been partially barricaded, as seen on Nov 30, 2023.
- Sembawang Town Council has been criticised for partially cordoning off the void deck of a housing block in Woodlands in order to prevent ball-playing
- A notice stated that it did so over "noise complaints"
- One resident expressed discontent over the decision, calling it "ridiculous"
- An online discussion on the matter showed that there were mixed opinions
- Some people supported the move for noise and safety reasons, while others found the measures "extreme"
SINGAPORE — A town council’s decision to partially cordon off the void deck of a public housing block in Woodlands to prevent ball-playing has been met with criticism online. It did this to address residents' complaints about noise.
The matter came to wider public attention on Nov 23 when an unidentified resident of Block 638 Woodlands Ring Road contacted TMSG— a blog on sports, entertainment and lifestyle — to voice his discontent over the move by Sembawang Town Council.
The resident deemed it “ridiculous” that the town council had blocked off a sizeable area of the void deck because children had been playing football there, TMSG reported.
He also shared the notice that was issued by the town council explaining the closure.
Dated Nov 3, the notice stated that the town council was following up on feedback regarding “noise nuisance” caused by school children “kicking ball and shouting while playing”.
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It said that students continued to play at the void deck despite past attempts to “educate” them by putting up “No Ball Game” signages, as well as advice from town council officers and Zone 8 grassroots leaders telling them not to do so.
As a result, the town council decided to barricade part of Block 638’s void deck “to prevent non-compliance temporarily”.
“The void deck is still available for use for weddings, funerals and other functions upon booking for use,” the notice stated, adding that the temporary hoarding will be removed “once the situation improves”.
A check by TODAY revealed that the orange safety net was still in place at the void deck on Thursday (Nov 30).
‘NO FUN ALLOWED’
The issue has caught the attention of online forum Reddit's users who had mixed opinions about it. A discussion thread on the matter has garnered 303 upvotes and 203 comments since it was posted last Sunday.
Many of them seemed to disagree with Sembawang Town Council’s actions, highlighting that young people in Singapore have limited options for outdoor activities and sports.
One top comment read: “For the kids, they play (at the) void deck likely because that's the only option for them. You can't expect them to fork out the money to book private cages, and public ones are few and far between.”
Some of them argued that children should be allowed to play at void decks during timings that are less disruptive, such as in the afternoon or early evening.
Others criticised the residents who complained, saying they were “making a mountain out of a molehill”.
One user griped about "no fun allowed”. Another said: “This is way too extreme. How can a (council) and a couple of miserable ****** living in the block have so much power?”
“This is why whatever World Cup dream we have is dead.Reddit user @elpipita20”
Concerns were also raised about further hindering the development of football culture in Singapore, citing examples from other countries where street soccer played a significant role in honing interest and basic skills.
One Reddit user said: “This is why whatever World Cup dream we have is dead.”
On the other hand, some Redditors lauded the move due to reasons such as noise disturbance for those working night shifts as well as concerns about resident safety, cleanliness and potential damage to the area.
One person recounted: “I've been hit on the head by a stray football before while walking past a void deck, so I'm quite against letting kids play ball there.”
Another reasoned: “Could be because the ball would leave dirt marks on the walls and ceiling and it would be a hassle to clean or the lights could become damaged if (they) hit it (with the ball).”
A handful of people reminisced about their childhood memories of playing football at the void deck with neighbours and lamented the apparent erosion of communal spaces within public housing estates.
One Redditor wrote: “(I) remember the good days (where) we played half-court football at the void deck wall. Two slippers for the goal post. No height limit. Malay, Indian, Chinese all playing together.”
Another person pointed out: “Weren't void decks initially conceptualised as a social space for residents? We've really come a long way from that (and not in a good way).”
TODAY has reached out to Sembawang Town Council for comment.
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