SINGAPORE: A group of residents in Clementi have expressed unhappiness over the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) whereby the government identifies old blocks for redevelopment.
Some residents reached out to the Reform Party, which has plans to contest the wider West Coast GRC.
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said: "For sometime we've had a Facebook page for feedback from the residents of West Coast on local issues and basically it's exploded. We're receiving so much feedback.
"We were told by residents here about their unhappiness. So we've come down (here) and find out for ourselves what's wrong and why they're unhappy."
Despite the invitation, residents were surprised with the Reform Party's presence as they did not want to politicise the situation.
The meeting was attended by about 50 homeowners at Block 322, Clementi Avenue 5.
The meeting was organised by a group of homeowners to collect more feedback to support an appeal to the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
They voiced various concerns, ranging from the compensation package being insufficient to an unwillingness to relocate.
Some said that although the compensation being offered is higher than the current value of their flats, it is not enough to cover stamp duties, levies and renovation costs.
Some also expressed difficulty getting loans from banks due to their old age.
When contacted, the incumbent MP Arthur Fong said he has a sense that most of the residents are happy with the package and only about one out of 10 residents has concerns.
He said he has helped this group to write in to the HDB for it to consider more favourable packages and discounts.
A reply is expected within three to six weeks.
The government in February identified Blocks 321, 322 and 323 in Clementi Avenue 5 for the SERS.
The blocks are 34 years old and are made up of 374 sold flats.
The HDB will build about 500 units of new two-room, three-room, four-room and five-room replacement flats at Clementi Avenue 3 to re-house the flat owners.
These new flats are located next to the nearby Clementi Town Centre, Clementi MRT Station and bus interchange.
- CNA/ir
Some residents reached out to the Reform Party, which has plans to contest the wider West Coast GRC.
Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said: "For sometime we've had a Facebook page for feedback from the residents of West Coast on local issues and basically it's exploded. We're receiving so much feedback.
"We were told by residents here about their unhappiness. So we've come down (here) and find out for ourselves what's wrong and why they're unhappy."
Despite the invitation, residents were surprised with the Reform Party's presence as they did not want to politicise the situation.
The meeting was attended by about 50 homeowners at Block 322, Clementi Avenue 5.
The meeting was organised by a group of homeowners to collect more feedback to support an appeal to the Housing and Development Board (HDB).
They voiced various concerns, ranging from the compensation package being insufficient to an unwillingness to relocate.
Some said that although the compensation being offered is higher than the current value of their flats, it is not enough to cover stamp duties, levies and renovation costs.
Some also expressed difficulty getting loans from banks due to their old age.
When contacted, the incumbent MP Arthur Fong said he has a sense that most of the residents are happy with the package and only about one out of 10 residents has concerns.
He said he has helped this group to write in to the HDB for it to consider more favourable packages and discounts.
A reply is expected within three to six weeks.
The government in February identified Blocks 321, 322 and 323 in Clementi Avenue 5 for the SERS.
The blocks are 34 years old and are made up of 374 sold flats.
The HDB will build about 500 units of new two-room, three-room, four-room and five-room replacement flats at Clementi Avenue 3 to re-house the flat owners.
These new flats are located next to the nearby Clementi Town Centre, Clementi MRT Station and bus interchange.
- CNA/ir
