Living in a bustling city like Singapore undoubtedly comes with its share of challenges. Recently, a surge in noise complaints by residents has prompted the closure of sports amenities near HDB flats.
Understanding the Problem
In various parts of Singapore, residents have raised concerns about excessive noise caused by youths engaging in late-night sports activities. The uproar during the wee hours has led to a considerable disturbance for those residing in proximity to these sports facilities.
A Closer Look: Block 338 Woodlands Avenue 1
According to Lianhe Zaobao, one of the affected locations is a basketball court near Block 338 Woodlands Avenue 1. This court now closes its doors at 9:30 pm every night. A visit at night reveals locked basketball hoops and illuminated courts, emphasizing the efforts taken to curb late-night disturbances.
Notices have been prominently displayed, urging players to be considerate and maintain minimal noise levels. Zari, a resident living on the first floor, sheds light on the town council’s proactive approach. Hoops are locked at 9:30 pm, and personnel return at 9 am the next day to unlock them. This practice, initiated in June 2023, is a direct response to the noise grievances voiced by residents.
Zari recounts the disruptive late-night activities, including loud cheers during exciting game moments, disturbing the sleep of nearby residents. He advocates for fairness, suggesting that both the basketball and adjacent badminton court should close at 10 pm, aligning with the common timeframe for such amenities.
Chen, another resident, attests to the positive change since the implementation of nightly closures. The once-disturbing shouts of basketball players in the early hours are now replaced with a quieter and more peaceful neighborhood.
Street Soccer Court Closure at Block 422 Bedok North Road
The decision to close the street soccer court at Block 422 was first announced by Tan Kiat How, the vice-chairman of East Coast Town Council and Member of Parliament (MP) for East Coast Group Representation Constituency, on his personal Facebook and Instagram pages on 12 December.
Mr. Tan highlighted concerns about “inconsiderate street soccer court users creating noise late into the night” and expressed the need to address disturbances to nearby residents, particularly seniors and shift workers.
The announcement went largely unnoticed until it gained attention on December 26 when alternative news platform Wake Up Singapore drew attention to the closure on its Instagram account, sharing photos of a flyer pasted on the court’s premises.
Wake Up Singapore captioned their Instagram post: “And we wonder why our football cannot make it… Repurposing street soccer court into what? Now street soccer court also wanna take away. Can’t play at void deck. Can’t play at street soccer court. Play where then?”
This sparked a wave of reactions from netizens expressing disappointment and questioning the limitations on where residents can engage in sports activities.
MP Tan Kiat How Responds
I noticed that there has been some attention to the temporary closure of a street soccer court at the foot of block 422 by Our Kampong Chai Chee East Coast Town Council.
Some folks have asked good questions like whether we have considered alternatives while others have tried to stir up unhappiness over this issue by linking it to unrelated matters.
I welcome the opportunity to add colour to this decision.
– We support an active lifestyle for all residents – kids, families, adults and seniors. That is why we have community sports/exercise facilities around the precinct. In fact, we recently refurbished the basketball and street soccer courts near Blk 135 Ruby Heights. They are open and free for residents’ use. (Another nearby court is at Rainbow Ville blk 403)
– We are exploring alternatives to closing the court and hence it is a temporary closure. We are also discussing with the residents there on their preference, and hopefully meeting the needs of all groups.
– BTW, many of the blocks in this Garden Hill estate are more than 40 years old! Our residents and their families probably played in the street soccer court when it was built decades ago!
But as the residents’ profiles change, I can imagine that their needs may be different now, e.g. wanting inter-generational space for them and their grandkids, exercise equipment for seniors, community garden etc.
As People’s Action Party MPs, we always try our best to meet the needs of different groups of residents, across different life stages.