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27-07-12, 22:19
http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_824129.html
Residents in private estates frustrated over lack of parking space
Published on Jul 20, 2012
By Chia Yan Min & Lim Yi Han
THE parking crunch has been causing frustration among residents in private estates, Members of Parliament told The Straits Times yesterday.
Mr Charles Chong, who represents Joo Chiat, said he receives roughly 15 to 20 complaints and requests on the issue every month. 'In private estates, parking has always been one of the major issues,' he said.
Mr Seng Han Thong, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, has also heard complaints about the lack of space during regular walkabouts. He said issues sometimes arise as many households have more than one car, and compounds in private estates have become smaller.
Said Ms Sylvia Lim, an MP for Aljunied GRC: 'Multiple unit developments replacing single landed houses... compound the problem.'
It is not just residents who are taking up parking spaces. In Mr Chong's ward, commercial vehicles take advantage of the free curbside parking at Siglap Plain. 'I have approached the Land Transport Authority about this, but was told that as long as the owners of these vehicles have paid their road taxes and are not obstructing the road, there is no legislation that forbids this,' he said.
Some residents at the private estate on Macpherson Road have resorted to placing items such as cones, chairs or flower pots outside their homes to stop others parking there.
Housewife Aileen Quek, 55, said: 'We are not against drivers who park outside because the road doesn't belong to us, but they need to be considerate and not block us.'
Another resident, housewife Kim Tan, 40, said: 'I am fine with it if drivers park outside my house for a while to visit the eateries or banks nearby. But someone once parked outside my house for about two weeks. It was ridiculous.'
Nominated MP Eugene Tan said: 'Just because someone uses a parking space frequently does not give the person an entitlement or legal right to say that it is theirs, since the road is public property.'
Other MPs said considerate parking is a matter of courtesy. 'Being a good car owner requires one to practise neighbourliness and exercise some discipline over parking carefully,' said Mr Seng.
Ms Lee Bee Wah, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and Environment, said that as land becomes increasingly expensive, solutions such as stacked parking might be needed. She added: 'In countries like Korea and Japan, this is a common solution.'
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Residents in private estates frustrated over lack of parking space
Published on Jul 20, 2012
By Chia Yan Min & Lim Yi Han
THE parking crunch has been causing frustration among residents in private estates, Members of Parliament told The Straits Times yesterday.
Mr Charles Chong, who represents Joo Chiat, said he receives roughly 15 to 20 complaints and requests on the issue every month. 'In private estates, parking has always been one of the major issues,' he said.
Mr Seng Han Thong, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, has also heard complaints about the lack of space during regular walkabouts. He said issues sometimes arise as many households have more than one car, and compounds in private estates have become smaller.
Said Ms Sylvia Lim, an MP for Aljunied GRC: 'Multiple unit developments replacing single landed houses... compound the problem.'
It is not just residents who are taking up parking spaces. In Mr Chong's ward, commercial vehicles take advantage of the free curbside parking at Siglap Plain. 'I have approached the Land Transport Authority about this, but was told that as long as the owners of these vehicles have paid their road taxes and are not obstructing the road, there is no legislation that forbids this,' he said.
Some residents at the private estate on Macpherson Road have resorted to placing items such as cones, chairs or flower pots outside their homes to stop others parking there.
Housewife Aileen Quek, 55, said: 'We are not against drivers who park outside because the road doesn't belong to us, but they need to be considerate and not block us.'
Another resident, housewife Kim Tan, 40, said: 'I am fine with it if drivers park outside my house for a while to visit the eateries or banks nearby. But someone once parked outside my house for about two weeks. It was ridiculous.'
Nominated MP Eugene Tan said: 'Just because someone uses a parking space frequently does not give the person an entitlement or legal right to say that it is theirs, since the road is public property.'
Other MPs said considerate parking is a matter of courtesy. 'Being a good car owner requires one to practise neighbourliness and exercise some discipline over parking carefully,' said Mr Seng.
Ms Lee Bee Wah, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and Environment, said that as land becomes increasingly expensive, solutions such as stacked parking might be needed. She added: 'In countries like Korea and Japan, this is a common solution.'
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