Sembawang Town Council in Woodlands responds to noise complaints by partially barricading a popular noise-making spot, which leads to varied community reactions.
In response to noise complaints, Sembawang Town Council has taken the decisive step of partially barricading the void deck area under a block of flats in Woodlands, a popular spot amongst school children for their noisy football games. This barricade at the void deck of Block 638 Woodlands Ring Road, announced via a formal notice dated November 3, 2023, was a measure aimed at curbing the noise caused by the children’s activities.
This is not the first instance where a local town council has taken such an action to manage noise complaints. It seems to be a common practice that echoes previously applied measures such as erecting metal barricades in Mei Ling Street in 2016, and a barricade installation at a void deck in Jurong West Street in 2020. Such barricades are put up only after numerous warnings and advisements have been ignored.
The community’s response to the barricade has, however, been varied. One resident deemed the measure as “ridiculous” and “unjustified”, taking to Instagram to share pictures of the void deck turned into a temporary Safety Barricade. The resident criticized that children should not be prevented from having fun, going on to say that “It is just boys who are playing football from the school nearby”.
On the practical front, the Sembawang Town Council has made clear that the barricade is a temporary measure. Should there be an official booking for social events such as weddings or funerals at the void deck, the council has assured that the Temporary Barricades Woodlands will be removed.
