To: Peabody, Crown Estate Commissioners
Protect the right of children to play
We ask Peabody and the Crown Estate Commissioners recognise and confirm that the Christchurch estate and square is for the enjoyment of all residents of the estate, of all ages; for the facilitation of building a strong community, as it was designed to do; for use by the families and residents of the estate for recreation, as we can see from historic photos, it has been used since its creation.
Why is this important?
We agree with Peabody that: “The sound of children playing is not considered anti-social behaviour. All children need to play inside or outside of their home in order to have a healthy upbringing.” We also agree that it is best for all residents that play should be respectful, both in times it occurs, and not to be of excessive volume or disturbance, and clearly self-regulation is the only effective enforcement. The families of the estate already abide to a set of informal guidelines around this - for example the time children may be outside playing - and are in constant communication and monitoring on this matter, a fact those without young families may not be aware of. We want to protect the children's rights as they have no voice themselves. We want to encourage dialogue between residents both for effectiveness and for the good of the community, and for all residents of all ages to enjoy living here 😀
