Makansutra's KF Seetoh: Government is not listening to the residents' needs

[Article first appeared on TREmeritus.com]

1 Jun, KF Seetoh wrote in his FB:

I am very sure the MP of my neighbourhood spent considerable time, effort n public monies in lobbying for and creating these backyard community lanes. It was nice to see kids in lanterns and trikes, playing badminton, parents pushing prams to avoid the main road traffic to get about etc.. they paved the backlanes and lit it nicely.

Thing is, the main road access or condo front was not used. The old and senior neighbours will literally face a road when they open their backyard door. Gone is their backyard plants and “hobby garden” and friendly exchanges in that space.

I really dun think this is the new “liveable and sustainable “city or PM just spoke about. No logical thinking govt would sacrifice community projects for commercial convenience. Someone got it wrong. There should be no excuse and dogma. No logical electorate would hve this happen too.

Hope it does not happen in your hood without yr consent, if ever.. i miss the Singapore ruled by heart, not all head.

12 Jun, KF Seetoh wrote:

So they came..BCA, LTA, SCDF etc… and saw just what the raised backlane carpark access lane, built without discussing with the affected residents..did to them. She cannot fully open the door and can you can imagine if there was a fire and the only exit. SCDF asked fr immediate remedy (even temporary) to the sitn. Also, thiefs and crackos can just stand on thier toes and see who is bathing or taking a dump or even jump over into the house. big security flaw n problem.

i asked, and the young architect behind actually did not feel there was a necessity to engage the long time residents on these matters. Oh Boy. The authorities are asking them to remedy the sitn, based on the residents concerns. will keep y’ll posted.

So to all those who did not belief they will listen and are fatalistic on these impostions in yr life… you now have a new religion..meet yr new god- BELIEVE.

And to all those so called “friends” but actually hecklers and trolls, back off on the Geylang innuendos will ya.

Do share this one spot on good news at least for today.

Fast forward to today, 25 Aug, Seetoh wrote this update in his FB:

That Geylang backlane carpark ramp saga update.. it was a unnecessary show of unbending govt bureaucracy, flexing and posing while demonstrating dogma. I’m bit cheong hei here , but this is entertaining in all the wrong ways. Bear with me.

So the MP kindly arranged for a few govt agencies (this was pre- fishball stick and multi agency agency dept set up) to look at how it came to be. In short, they created the raised backlane carpark ramp without discussing problems and implications with the residents. Then they decided to do so only, after, building it. So we gathered a whole list of safety, security, pollution, technical and community concerns (they bulldozed the nicely lit community backlane walkway created just some years back, so now, the space for play and shortcut for kids and old folks away from vehicular traffic is gone). Among others, the cars will line up with pollutive engines happily switched on just feet away from our back dining area while waiting to get into the carpark lift..one by one. It is also just too easy and tempting for mischief and crime- they can jump of the back of a truck and onto backyards and leer into bathrooms from the raised carpark backlane. Kids and old folks can quite easily fall into the exposed gutter should they decide to risk that short cut walk along the side.

So, with all our concerns in file… they firmly reverted with inflexibility and total lack of listening power, citing “Master Plan” and flood situations (there never was any flood in that area, plus a whole multi milllion dollar river works there was re-dredged recently to alleviate it). They merely wanted the contractors to do touch up works, like offering little plasters to stem a haemorrhage. They wanted to make the backlane look like the entrance and walls around Changi Prison. They cited stiff old laws and examples, not knowing that rules and laws are meant to evolve for the better, with each passing day.

Best part, they mentioned that the main entrance of the condo will create traffic jams entrance if entrance was sited there (we are talking about Lor 34 Geylang, and if they noticed, it’s wide enough to hold a carpark lane, a one way path, plus hold a lane for illegal parkers going for fine char siew, mini paus and sambal pomfrets just beside- all with no “jams”. Instead they wanted the carpark entrance relocated to the narrow back lanes.