Everything you need to know about the void deck railings issue in 60 seconds

Last Updated on 2016-05-18 , 4:51 pm

Many Singaporeans are up in arms over the recent issue of railings installed in void decks, in the local Town Council’s effort to stop ball games in that area.

A Facebook user uploaded a picture showing three railings erected in the void deck at Block 143 Mei Ling Street, along with a caption “(this) space, originally filled with so much potential for use and creativity, is now effectively transformed into a dead space”. 

Multiple perspectives have been presented.

Some argued that having railings there meant that weddings and funerals would not be able to be held at the void deck. However, this was quickly refuted when the railings were discovered to be removable for these occasions.

These discussions have also sparked an interesting debate about how we use and perceive our shared spaces. Some took the stand that children like to play ball games in void decks because it was a space they felt “comfortable in”. Also, a few lamented that it was the lack of futsal courts and spaces for sports which drove people to play ball games in void decks.

However, others pointed out that ball games often produce a great deal of noise (especially for those who lived on the lower floors), as well as risks of injury for pregnant women, toddlers and other passers-by. Balls also can dirty the walls of the void deck.

At least one party, SGAG, has taken a hilarious stand on this issue, claiming that the three railings installed have actually divided the area into three mini-sized football courts for even more children to play and predicted that now, “Singapore can qualify for the World Cup”.

What’s your stand?