Residents Want Greater Say In Estate Matters

Source : The Straits Times, Aug 4, 2007

HDB to review upgrading schemes to offer more choices

RESIDENTS in public housing estates want a greater say in how their estates are run and the Housing Board is considering giving it a shot.
It will review existing upgrading programmes to see how residents can have more choice over improvements.

It has altered its resettlement scheme to give residents more leeway to live near neighbours to whom they feel close, and will ask them what facilities they hope to have in future estates.

This response comes after a consultation exercise - the Forum on HDB Heartware - aimed at finding ways to strengthen estate communities.

It was launched last November by the Ministry of National Development and attracted the views of more than 1,000. Its findings were released yesterday.

One theme that emerged was the desire for more influence over decision-making as a way to promote belonging and ownership. To this end, HDB will allow more household groups to select new flats together when holding Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme exercises.

Wet markets in new estates?
WET markets could make a comeback in new estates after the forum consultation exercise called for their return.

The Housing Board, in a policy U-turn, responded to resident demands by allowing a private operator to build and run a wet market and hawker centre in Sengkang, possibly on a site in Ponggol Central.

Under the previous arrangement, only four neighbours living on the same floor or related families could pick new flats together when old blocks were demolished to make way for new ones,

Now up to six households can do so, and they do not have to live on the same floor or even the same block. This gives them a chance to retain close ties.

The HDB is also considering avoiding a cookie-cutter approach to its upgrading programmes and giving residents more choice over their flat's improvements.

Residents now foot the same bill for upgrading even if they opt out of enhancements such as new windows, grilles, front doors and gates.

And a new development is on the drawing board in Sembawang. Dr Lim Wee Kiak, an MP for Sembawang GRC, told a press conference yesterday that he will try out a collective decision-making scheme for residents. They will be invited to a general meeting to voice ideas which will be discussed in detail before being voted on.

Three projects have been lined up for this scheme - one to install CCTV cameras, another to get residents to keep their estate clean, and the last to determine the type of cyclical repair and redecoration work to be done.