'Removing No Ball Games signs will help kids play'

"Slowly, across the years, we've been obligated to lock the kids in the house and not allowed them to be a bit free like we used to be growing up," says mother-of-three Helena Costa.

The 31-year-old lives on an estate in south London that has seen some of its No Ball Games signs removed or replaced with basketball hoops.

Ms Costa said she hopes the initiative from the charity London Sport and the London Lions basketball team will see more children playing outside on the Mursell Estate in Lambeth.

"The kids won't have so much fear being out playing," she said.

"A lot of people use the signs, not only for ball games, but in general as 'you shouldn't be playing around here'."

Ms Costa, who has lived on Mursell Estate since 2011, said she hoped it would inspire children to spend more time playing outside and not staying inside playing computer games.

"It's OK, don't get me wrong, but too much of it gets to the brain," she said.

"A couple of years ago you used to see children play out here and slowly, slowly, with people complaining and so on, you rarely see it now."

She said it was amazing to see a large group of children playing outside on the estate after a basketball hoop sign was installed.

Beatrice Kabutakapua, who lives in Woolwich, said the signs in her area were very limiting for her two children.

"It's a pity, because there is a lot of space and it's not being utilised for anything except passing by."

She said some of her children's school friends live in the same building, but they do not play outside together due to the signs.

"We still play sometimes and that has taught them to be mindful of the effect their actions have on properties and people," she said.

Ms Kabutakapua added a sign that allowed children to play, but encouraged them to think about their neighbours, would be better.

According to Sport England, more than half of the country's children are failing to meet the Chief Medical Officer's recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise.

In London, 32% of children and young people are averaging less than 30 active minutes per day, according to research.

London Sport said the signs act as barriers to activity and should be removed from public spaces.

The charity's chief executive, Emily Robinson, said: "Unfortunately, when you get loads of signs that say No Ball Games, it absolutely prevents children from going out and playing.

"Across London there are more than 7,000 of these No Ball Games signs up," Ms Robinson said.

"We're working with local authorities to take down the signs."

Elsewhere in London, Haringey Council has removed more than 130 of the signs from its estates since 2015, as part of the London Sport initiative.

"These No Ball Games signs send the wrong message, especially to children and young people," Ms Robinson added.

"As a society we need to be finding suitable, safe places which proactively encourage children to play, exercise and take a break from screens and devices."

Ben Kind, cabinet member for children and families in Lambeth, said they had removed almost 100 of the signs to date.

"In that time, I don't think we've had a complaint about it," he said.

"They're a hangover from the '70s and the '80s. They're not really enforceable. They make people feel unwelcome.

"By taking them down, we're able to make sure that Lambeth is a great place for young people to grow up.

"This is their estate too and they should be able to get out and play where they want to."

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