Residents welcome metal net preventing pickleball at Indus Road, say Stomper and town council
A metal net set up on a hard court near Block 77 Indus Road following pickleball noise complaints has been the subject of much debate.
Several Stompers earlier criticised the move, noting that it prevents games such as sepak takraw too. One Stomper, known as Chin, said he felt blindsided.
Netizens also voiced concerns involving safety, a loss of kampung spirit and possible deterrence of a healthy lifestyle.
In response to a Stomp query, Jalan Besar Town Council (JBTC) said on Nov 24: "Courts in our town are designed for different games and purposes, and not all are suitable for pickleball.
"There are nearby facilities that are suitable for pickleball, such as Delta Sports Centre and Kings Pickleball Arena. Players may wish to make use of these nearby venues.
"Residents have welcomed this move, and the town council will continue to monitor feedback."
Stomper Phua, who previously called for a ban on pickleball in the estate, is one of those applauding the move.
She said: "It is inaccurate to say that the town council did not pre-warn the pickleball players. In reality, advisories were put up long ago and players were even advised on the ground, but the players repeatedly refused to switch to quieter paddles or balls.
"The hard court is located extremely close to residential blocks and is simply not suitable for a high-impact, loud, mechanical sport like pickleball.
"Some of these players behaved as though they had an absolute right to occupy the court. One particular individual, Chin, openly admitted he hosted games here several times a week, for long hours, including weekends.
"Residents living around the court had no peace or rest. This behaviour showed a lack of sportsmanship and complete disregard for the surrounding community, as if the hard court were his personal backyard."
Phua called the pickleball players "selfish" and said "they don't care that the noise is mental torment s they are the not on the receiving end".
She added: "Regarding the Shin Min Daily News report claiming residents were 'okay' with the noise — the article referenced only three residents. Even if a minority of residents are affected, our mental health still matters. Long-term exposure to repetitive, harsh noise can genuinely take a toll on one's emotional well-being.
"After Stomp highlighted the disturbance, there was noticeable improvement, but that progress was undone after the Shin Min report downplayed the issue.
"What's even more frustrating is that these players come here, create disturbance for hours, and then return to their own quiet homes. They never reflected on whether hosting games multiple times a week for extended hours was inconsiderate. And they were not the only group — different groups appeared at different times, causing noise throughout the day.
According to Phua, the noise disturbances had been going on for more than 1.5 years until the metal net was installed.
She told Stomp: "As for the recent hoo-ha, it was actually after Chin suggested restricted hours that the town council turned off the lights at 9pm. This ended up affecting the sepak takraw players — who, unlike pickleball players, produce normal ambient sports noise that residents can tolerate.
"In fact, I would much rather have takraw players use the court, because their sounds are natural and not the relentless mechanical pok-pok-pok that drives people mentally exhausted.
"Because of that early lights-off, the takraw players stopped coming even before the metal fence was installed.
"Now, after the installation of the metal net, peace has finally returned. Badminton and takraw players have started using the court again — sports that are reasonable for a residential environment."
The Stomper shared recent photos of sports players using the court with the net, adding: "Residents finally get the quiet and rest we deserve. We are happy with the resolution and finally have mental peace 👻😍."
