Clearing of Tanglin Halt

[Scion]

aiyah, sometimes i feel the authority is rigid minded

 

it's just a cosy corner for the old residents to chill out, chit chat

 

yes, it's state land, but it hasn't been designated for any usage yet right?

 

now they even chop down the bamboo grove

 

really must pay and pay then can use?

 

 

  Quote

 

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/clearing-tanglin-halt-hangout-upsets-activists?singlepage=true Clearing of Tanglin Halt ‘hangout’ upsets activists

The Datuk Kong tree shrine near Commonwealth Drive and Tanglin Halt is pictured April 17, 2015. Photo: Jason Quah

Published: 11:53 PM, May 25, 2015

SINGAPORE — The recent clearance of items from State land near Tanglin Halt by the authorities has upset some community activists, who have been trying to revive its use for farming and as a hangout spot.

 

The plot of land, about the size of a basketball court, is near to the vacated Block 76 and a disused carpark along Commonwealth Drive.

Ten to 20 years ago, the spot — marked by a bamboo grove — became a hangout for drivers of trucks and lorries as the carpark allowed for heavy-vehicle parking, according to residents and Mr Kwek Li Yong, president of civic group My Community. A Taoist shrine was later set up, complete with statues of deities and floor tiles, but the unauthorised shrine was relocated in 2011 by the Singapore Land Authority, together with the then-Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, to the Taoist Federation in accordance with rituals, an SLA spokesperson said. The removal was necessary to prevent further unauthorised use of State land, the spokesperson added.

 

Last month, the SLA put up a notice alerting users of the land of unlawful trespass via the placing of chairs, tables, plants and other items there, and requested the removal of items by April 23. Some items were then removed but it is unclear who did it. An informal community group, which has set up a Facebook page called Tree Shrine Sessions at Tanglin Halt, then organised sessions to clear litter from the area and has been encouraging the nearby community to return to the space, said the group’s spokesman Joseph Nair, who lives at Stirling Road.

 

On Saturday (May 23), they found that the remaining items in the area, as well as the crown of the bamboo grove, had been removed by the authorities. “We were shocked at the brutality when they cut the tree. It was a small beautiful space, the small community that enjoyed the area shouldn’t need to abandon it just because SLA said so,” said Mr Nair.

 

When contacted, the SLA said it had put up advisories in the area since April 9 informing parties to remove the items by April 23. “As we did not receive any call or feedback then, we proceeded to clear the items on 22 May 2015 as there were potential mosquito breeding concerns from the rubbish and the discarded containers,” said the spokesperson.

 

Its latest notice put up last Thursday informs parties to remove cultivation in the area by June 4. “Cultivation of land should be done in designated areas in order not to cause disamenity to others,” the spokesperson said.

 

The SLA also said it received a request from one of the community activists, Ms Lucy Davis, on Saturday for the space to be regenerated as an informal hangout. It will be working with the area’s grassroots advisor, Dr Chia Shi-Lu, to look into Ms Davis’ feedback and “explore a suitable arrangement for the community to continue using the site”.

 

A Commonwealth Drive resident who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan, 72, told TODAY he has previously tried to grow sugarcane, papaya and banana on the land but found the plants chopped away a few months ago. Mr Tan, who passes the site frequently for walks along the Rail Corridor, would also take fruits to the area to feed squirrels. Asked about the removal of items and the crown of the bamboo grove, he felt it was a pity but acknowledged that the land belonged to the State. “We have no demands, we are just retirees and are not very sure about the rules,” he said.

 

The group, which has about five active members, want to help Mr Tan and his friend to seek permission for a community farm in the area. They were also planning to submit a proposal for the site, in response to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s recent call for creative ideas for forgotten public spaces. The group hopes for the bamboo grove to be allowed to regenerate, Mr Nair said.

 

Ms Davis said the Taoist shrine has come up often in interviews with shopkeepers in the community carried out by her students at the Nanyang Technological University, where she is an assistant professor. Such shrines are unique to the syncretic culture of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, she said.

 

She added that the active users of the bamboo grove have kept the place clean and tidy, and the litter come from people who use the adjacent pathway to get to their workplaces and those who picnic there on weekends.

 

However, My Community’s Mr Kwek, whose group has extensively documented the heritage of Queenstown, felt the site “may not be representative of the Tanglin Halt community”. Users of the site would burn incense or firewood and did not have a good relationship with residents, he said. “Nonetheless, community spaces are constantly altered or removed in fast-developing neighbourhoods like Tanglin Halt. The authorities should consider providing alternative space in other parts of the estate for these (heavy-vehicle) drivers and elderly residents to gather,” he said.

 

The area around the site will soon see further changes, with Blocks 74 to 80 to be torn down under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme. New homes will be built and demolition works are expected to start later this year, said the Housing and Development Board.

 

[LoverofCar]

LJ authority lah....everything also must apply permit...everything also must play by their rule and plan.....

[Hamburger]

bureaucratic.......enough said.

[Sosaria]

Land = Money, here in singapore.

 

Less and less vacant plots of land available for recreational activities these days.

 

A field near my home has been 'invaded' by foreign workers for their cricket games on most weekends these days. You can't really blame them as most probably their regular field has also been re-possessed so this has pushed them further out to look for other ground.

 

In the end, singaporeans will just own that floor space of their HDB (that also, on loan to the bank). Everywhere else, including the space to park their cars, must be paid for.

[Toothiewabbit]

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Edited May 26, 2015 by Toothiewabbit

[ChickenMob]

no revenue for them , they must try to generate revenue from it.

who really cares about those citizens resting place ?

 

everyday talking about money here and there....

[Lurpsexx]

  On 5/26/2015 at 11:36 AM, Hamburger said:

bureaucratic.......enough said.

 

Anyone knows what is a community activist? A resident who's vocal and actionable? Or a NGO person?

 

Anyway, from what is said here, I agree that the SLA is heavy handed and no EQ... just take mass media reports with a huge dose of scepticism as they report what they want you to hear and which support their views.. residents concerns dun matter and not worth reporting...

[Hamburger]

  On 5/26/2015 at 2:37 PM, Lurpsexx said:

 

Anyone knows what is a community activist? A resident who's vocal and actionable? Or a NGO person?

 

Anyway, from what is said here, I agree that the SLA is heavy handed and no EQ... just take mass media reports with a huge dose of scepticism as they report what they want you to hear and which support their views.. residents concerns dun matter and not worth reporting...

 

normally a role play by social worker who advocates the rights and benefits for the community.

[Throttle2]

Good job SLA.

 

No one should be allowed to just use state land as they wish.

If no control is in place, and things continue, it would be even more difficult to clear up in future.

Already from the pic, it unsightly.

Worse still, other stateland may also be used as people start to think that it is alright.

 

Where, when , how will the line be drawn if this is allowed?

 

Some things require very clear lines and boundaries.

This is one of them. Well done SLA for clearing up what is necessary

[Xefera]

since the MP has been alerted to the matter, hope they can work something out. its also mentioned in the article that there are conflicts between residents and those who frequent the place.Authorities may be working based on feedback from one party though.

[Mustank]

  On 5/26/2015 at 11:57 PM, Throttle2 said:

Good job SLA.

 

No one should be allowed to just use state land as they wish.

If no control is in place, and things continue, it would be even more difficult to clear up in future.

Already from the pic, it unsightly.

Worse still, other stateland may also be used as people start to think that it is alright.

 

Where, when , how will the line be drawn if this is allowed?

 

Some things require very clear lines and boundaries.

This is one of them. Well done SLA for clearing up what is necessary

 

land is a very precious resource

belonging to the govt ans not simply anybody

the residents can go to their neighbourhood park to rest and relax'

this site is needed to sell to build condo

[Wt_know]

hdb senior corner bo sing ee isit? lol

Edited May 27, 2015 by Wt_know

[Ender]

I feel submitting proposal and working with MP to talk the SLA is the right way. I'm not against 'chopping' the place with your chairs and sofa and call it your kaki corner, as long as it does not intrude on the public. But they cannot cry fowl when the land is to be taken back. Becoz chopping place is not equal to the right of usage.

[Latio2005A]

  On 5/26/2015 at 11:34 AM, LoverofCar said:

LJ authority lah....everything also must apply permit...everything also must play by their rule and plan.....

in their dictionary, these old folks are raiding our reserves.

[Mustank]

  On 5/27/2015 at 12:46 AM, Ender said:

I feel submitting proposal and working with MP to talk the SLA is the right way. I'm not against 'chopping' the place with your chairs and sofa and call it your kaki corner, as long as it does not intrude on the public. But they cannot cry fowl when the land is to be taken back. Becoz chopping place is not equal to the right of usage.

 

can go put a R&R corner in underground seweage

 

 

or put under mrt track since govt looking for ideas how to use under mrt track land

 

[Mustank]

  On 5/27/2015 at 12:46 AM, Ender said:

I feel submitting proposal and working with MP to talk the SLA is the right way. I'm not against 'chopping' the place with your chairs and sofa and call it your kaki corner, as long as it does not intrude on the public. But they cannot cry fowl when the land is to be taken back. Becoz chopping place is not equal to the right of usage.

 

mp no power one lah

fernvale there going teear down some market then build high rise building, the mp there also lan lan

 

 

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/%5Bgpgt%5D-fernvale-resident-asked-simple-yes-no-look-what-mp-lam-pin-min-replied-5062411.html

[Galantspeedz]

I am sure the reaction would be very much different if it was taken up by FTs instead.....

 

good job SLA

[Ender]

  On 5/27/2015 at 1:02 AM, Mustank said:

 

mp no power one lah

fernvale there going teear down some market then build high rise building, the mp there also lan lan

 

 

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/%5Bgpgt%5D-fernvale-resident-asked-simple-yes-no-look-what-mp-lam-pin-min-replied-5062411.html

No power than too bad, can appeal, but it doesn't work out, rightfully there no fowl play.... There shouldn't be right of usage, just by chopping public area with chairs... My side got some jungle clearing, does it means if I built some shelter for kaki corner, it becomes a community area? Again I'm not against chopping corners for kaki relax corner, but if gahment take back, there's nothing to cry about.