One anonymous man from Chichester has taken it upon himself to mock the ‘fun deficit’ in his city.
The father goes by the name of Chichester Anti-Recreation Partnership (Carp), which is the title of the Facebook group he set up, and has been putting up signs in the Sussex city since August mocking its ‘overregulation and lack of fun.’
Carp’s intention is to make people laugh, but also to highlight the lack of things to do for youths in a city which has ‘forgotten about the younger generations.’
One of his signs reads: ‘Child Congestion Charge Zone – Part of the Chichester Laughter Reduction Initiative.’
Another hilariously reads: ‘Coffee Control Zone – Public consumption of coffee is prohibited between 5am and 10pm.’
The man, who lives and works in the city, told the BBC: ‘I absolutely adore Chichester but it does have some notable gaps – particularly when it comes to fun and things for younger people to do.
‘Over time, it’s become increasingly focused on catering to older residents.
‘While it’s great that there’s so much to do for those who’ve retired, it feels like that’s come at the expense of forgetting about the younger generations.’
Carp has gained a significant following on social media since he began making the signs in August – in which time he’s managed to put up 35.
His Facebook page has amassed more than 1,000 followers with locals often praising his humor.
Annie Chambers, a woman from Chichester, commented: ‘Looking forward to seeing what goes up next, they certainly brighten up my day.’
Jim Rendall added: ‘I’m loving your work!’
Chichester District Council have defended themselves, however, arguing that the Sussex city is a ‘vibrant place to live, work and visit.’
They said: ‘Families and young people are a really important part of our community.’
The council are reportedly investing £814,000 in refurbishments to several of the city’s play areas.
Carp, though, is determined to make Chichester a better place.
He said: ‘Humour has this unique ability to disarm people – it lowers their defences and allows them to consider issues from a fresh perspective.
‘It reframes problems in a way that’s more approachable and less confrontational, which makes it easier to get your message across and spark discussions.
‘I feel like I’m contributing to making the city a better place for everyone.
‘Whether it’s a smile, a conversation, or just getting people to think about the issues in a new way, I think the impact justifies the effort.’
Nearly half of Chichester’s residents are over 50 years old according to the Office for National Statistics.
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