Thursday, April 06, 2006
Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council unveils estate upgrading plan
SINGAPORE : Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council has launched its $200 million estate renewal programme for the next five years.
Residents can look forward to a $3 million sports park as well as more elderly and disabled friendly features.
The sports park which will contain a soccer field and volley ball courts.
This is in line with its Bishan Active concept to provide a platform for more community-based activities.
There will also be more gardens and sheltered public areas for performers.
"We are also providing a comprehensive approach to accessing of amenities and facilities for the disabled, elderly and young children. We believe these are things that people are looking forward to, based on feedback we've received over the past few years," said Zainudin Nordin, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Bishan-Toa Payoh, a matured estate, has been upgraded several times over the past decades.
While residents are generally happy, some are hoping for more.
"I am also a senior citizen, I'll look forward to lift upgrading because I am quite disappointed having seen blocks which are younger than mine being upgraded first," said one resident.
"There should be more facilities for children and youths. Currently there are few places for them to hang out," said another.
"Maybe they can build things like BBQ pits because most of the time we have to go to places like East Coast Park which is quite far away," suggested a third.
So far, at least 10 town councils have launched their 5-year estate renewal plans ranging between $160 million and $1 billion.
This latest announcement by the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council will bring the total cost of such upgrading programmes to over $5 billion.
And with election talks in high gear, will this upgrading plan influence voters at the nearby opposition ward of Potong Pasir?
"I would not link the Bishan-Toa Payoh development to Potong Pasir because I think that is a unique constituency. At the end of the day, it's up to the residents to choose the candidates during the election," said Zainudin Nordin.
The exhibition on the upgrading programme will be held at the Bishan Bus Interchange till Friday and near the Toa Payoh Amphitheatre next week.
- CNA /ls
Residents can look forward to a $3 million sports park as well as more elderly and disabled friendly features.
The sports park which will contain a soccer field and volley ball courts.
This is in line with its Bishan Active concept to provide a platform for more community-based activities.
There will also be more gardens and sheltered public areas for performers.
"We are also providing a comprehensive approach to accessing of amenities and facilities for the disabled, elderly and young children. We believe these are things that people are looking forward to, based on feedback we've received over the past few years," said Zainudin Nordin, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Bishan-Toa Payoh, a matured estate, has been upgraded several times over the past decades.
While residents are generally happy, some are hoping for more.
"I am also a senior citizen, I'll look forward to lift upgrading because I am quite disappointed having seen blocks which are younger than mine being upgraded first," said one resident.
"There should be more facilities for children and youths. Currently there are few places for them to hang out," said another.
"Maybe they can build things like BBQ pits because most of the time we have to go to places like East Coast Park which is quite far away," suggested a third.
So far, at least 10 town councils have launched their 5-year estate renewal plans ranging between $160 million and $1 billion.
This latest announcement by the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council will bring the total cost of such upgrading programmes to over $5 billion.
And with election talks in high gear, will this upgrading plan influence voters at the nearby opposition ward of Potong Pasir?
"I would not link the Bishan-Toa Payoh development to Potong Pasir because I think that is a unique constituency. At the end of the day, it's up to the residents to choose the candidates during the election," said Zainudin Nordin.
The exhibition on the upgrading programme will be held at the Bishan Bus Interchange till Friday and near the Toa Payoh Amphitheatre next week.
- CNA /ls
New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.
// posted by Shajahan @ 10:49 AM 