Printer-friendly versionForum Replies
URA'S REPLY
No easy solution to traffic problems in largely landed housing area like
Serangoon Garden Mrs Irene Sim-Zeiler suggested that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) work together to solve the traffic problems in Serangoon Garden, instead of banning more food joints in this area ('Restaurant ban in Serangoon Garden not warranted'; last Sunday). We recognise that some areas in Singapore are popular eating places and they add significantly to the character of the locality they are in. Nevertheless, the guideline on new eating houses has to be balanced with the likely disamenity to the residential neighbourhood. Serangoon Garden is located within a predominantly landed housing area with narrow estate roads. The popularity of the existing eateries has resulted in severe traffic congestion and indiscriminate parking in the area. The URA and LTA have studied the possibility of adding more carparks but there is a lack of suitable vacant land near the eateries. There is also no room to widen the existing estate roads to handle more traffic without affecting homes and properties. We are mindful that adding more carparks or another mall will attract more traffic, which is beyond what the existing estate roads can cope with. Hence, this area has been included in the list of problematic traffic locations where new eating houses will not be allowed. This does not affect the existing eateries, which can continue to operate. The URA and LTA review a list of problematic traffic locations yearly, taking into consideration the prevailing parking and traffic conditions and feedback from the surrounding residents. An area might be removed from the list should the parking and traffic conditions improve in the future. Han Yong Hoe
|
LETTER
Restaurant ban in Serangoon Garden not warranted Dining out is an integral part of living in Singapore, and people will always flock to popular areas like Serangoon Garden, Holland Village and Katong on weekends for good food despite the perennial traffic problem ('Restaurant ban to ease traffic at Serangoon Garden'; last Sunday). The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Land Transport Authority should work together to solve the traffic problem in Serangoon Garden. They could build a bigger mall or multi-storey carpark to provide more parking spaces, improve traffic by changing the roundabout system, or close off certain areas to stop illegal parking. Instead, the URA has imposed a ban so that no more Serangoon Garden shophouses can be turned into food joints. But this means the eateries' rentals will go up and people like us will end up paying more for dining in the area. The Katong parking situation has improved considerably since the development of 112 Katong. Finally, we have a building in which we can park properly. Holland Village has been replanned. So why is Serangoon Garden handled differently? Irene Sim-Zeiler (Mrs)
|
