Yes, let’s get rid of ‘no ball games’ signs – but it won’t solve our problems | Lynsey Hanley

Haringey council is reviewing these outdated signs to encourage children to play outside – but the real causes of the obesity epidemic are harder to tackle

Haringey council in north London is to review the use of “no ball games” signs on its estates, to encourage children to play outside. This reminds me of the time I crashed into one wearing rollerskates, thus proving it was possible to obey its instructions and yet still endanger your health.

The miserliness of such signs seems to reinforce an unfortunate British attitude towards the idea of other people doing things: they are nimby-ism made concrete, or rather metal. Their place in our landscape was sent up by the artist Banksy in a mural which showed two children playing catch with the sign.

Proponents of home zones believe that cars, not signs, are by far the greater impediment to free play in neighbourhoods

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