Schools are to get an £80million cash injection to encourage children to play an instrument

Schools are to get an £80million cash injection to create ‘music hubs’ to encourage children to take up an instrument

  • Residents near St Andrew’s Park in Bristol are in uproar about the toddlers’ din 
  • The playground is adorned with brightly-coloured bongos and a xylophone 
  • George Clarke, who has lived in the area for 25 years, said: ‘There is nowhere to get away from the racket’

After waiting two months for their playground to be revamped, children were delighted that a set of three brightly-coloured bongos and a xylophone had been added.

And like all youngsters, they wasted no time in enjoying making their own music.

But their enthusiasm seems to have struck a sour note with residents – who think the noise is bang out of order.

Mike (back left) and Alex Herebert-Guest (back right) play on the Xylophone with their daughter Carys at St Andrew’s Park on 2 January 2020 

Kate Phelon plays on the Bongo Drums with her daughter Amy at St Andrew's Park, Bristol. 2 January 2020

Kate Phelon plays on the Bongo Drums with her daughter Amy at St Andrew’s Park, Bristol. 2 January 2020

Some homeowners in the wealthy suburb of St Andrew’s, Bristol, complain the bongos are ruining the park and even make it ‘too noisy to think’.

George Clarke, who has lived in the area for 25 years, said: ‘There is nowhere to get away from the racket.’

He added that the drums wreck activities like ‘enjoying nature, thinking, meditating or even chatting’.

The new 'bongos' and musical instruments in the children's playground St Andrew's Park, Bristol. 2 January 2020

The new ‘bongos’ and musical instruments in the children’s playground St Andrew’s Park, Bristol. 2 January 2020

Mother-of-three Melanie Kenson hit back on Facebook: ‘It’s great, the park needed this! Let kids be kids and have some fun.’ Paul Tinkler added: ‘Ridiculous. Get over it.’

Project manager Kate Phelon, 41, said her daughter Amy, three, loves the instruments, adding: ‘I don’t see how they’re a nuisance. It’s quite a big park, and other people do use it.’

 

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