Holland V to Becum Like Chinatown Next Week - DEAD!

[makapaaa]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 13, 2008
HOLLAND VILLAGE VALET SERVICES
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Only till Sunday
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Some patrons will stop going to area, but residents welcome closure </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi V Selvaretnam
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A valet helping a driver to look for a parking lot at Holland Village on Thursday. Some motorists say the area has a shortage of parking lots, and finding a place to park can take up to 30 minutes. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE Housing Board has allowed controversial valet services at Holland Village to continue over the weekend, but patrons and business owners are concerned about what would happen after they stop operations on Sunday night.
Some bar- and restaurant-goers told The Straits Times that they would think twice about going to the area if there was no one around to park their cars.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Complaints galore
THE Housing Board has been receiving about 10 to 20 complaints a month against valet operators at Holland Village. The common complaints include:

Valets tout for business at the entrance of the carpark, causing congestion along the road leading to the carpark.

... more​

WRONG TO MONOPOLISE LOTS

'The use of HDB carpark lots is on a first-come, first-served basis. Nobody should be allowed to monopolise the parking lots and deprive other users, or require them to pay additional charges for the use of the lots.'

... more​

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Other Parking Lots
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>That is the worst-case scenario for businesses, which have deals with two valet companies that operate out of an HDB carpark.
It has been a roller-coaster ride for the valet companies, which were told on Monday to shut after several years in business.
The valets still showed up for work on Tuesday and Wednesday, defying HDB wardens sent to police them.
Late on Thursday night, following an appeal by one operator, Sakthya Services, the authorities decided to extend the deadline through the weekend.
Sakthya Services and the other company, Purple Valet Services, usually park between 80 and 100 cars a night. They have contracts with 14 businesses in Holland Village - including spas, restaurants and hair salons - to provide valet parking.
'I decided to continue till Sunday so that my workers can make some money,' said Mr R.K. Vicnesh, the owner of Sakthya Services. He had initially planned to close on Wednesday night after his valets received warnings from carpark wardens.
Purple Valet Services also plans to cease operations on Sunday.
Some motorists said they were disappointed by the closure order. They said the area has a shortage of lots and finding a place to park can take 20 to 30 minutes.
'We will come here less often now,' said sales executive Sky Oh, 45, who uses the valet services. 'They are very convenient. You do not need to wait and they look after your car.'
Others, like bank officer Meng Yong, 31, suggested that the ground-level carpark at Holland Avenue be replaced by a multi-storey one with more lots.
The prospect of losing customers has worried business owners, including Mr Calvin Lim, who runs Blitz Salon. 'Business will definitely slow down. At least 50 to 60 per cent of my clients used the valets. It is a value-added service,' he said.
Mr Ghazi Georges Khanashat, the managing director of Lebanese restaurant Al-Qas'r, also said he might be forced to move if the parking situation worsens.
HDB had earlier said the valet companies had to go because residents complained they were taking up reserved lots.

=> Residents have been compraining a lot, but why only act on those from the elite districts while ignoring those staying in subprime housing?

But five residents living in nearby HDB blocks said finding spots has not been a problem. They said there are plenty of lots for residents in the new double-storey carpark at Holland Avenue.
The ground-level carpark at Holland Avenue and the new double-storey carpark next to it have a total of 186 lots for residents who are season-parking ticket holders and 235 lots for visitors.

=> Ah, Mabroky forcing the people to pay and pay again!

Still, some motorists are glad the valet services will be stopped. Teacher Lewis Thong, 32, said he did not like the aggressive tactics used by some valets. He said some parked cars in front of occupied lots and blocked the road.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the HDB said the carpark used by the valets is meant mainly for residents. It will be implementing new measures to ease congestion, and on Sept 22, a new electronic parking system will be introduced.
As users will be charged by the minute, they will be less inclined to monopolise lots, the HDB said. This will free up more lots and encourage better traffic flow.
The carpark signboards will also indicate how many lots are available, so motorists can move on to another nearby carpark if necessary.
[email protected] Additional reporting by Seow Kai Lun


Complaints galore

THE Housing Board has been receiving about 10 to 20 complaints a month against valet operators at Holland Village. The common complaints include:
Valets tout for business at the entrance of the carpark, causing congestion along the road leading to the carpark.
They harass motorists who do not use their service and, in some cases, bar them from vacant lots.
They block the driveway with their customers' cars, inconveniencing those who are leaving either from their parking lot or along the driveway.
They monopolise the choice locations, forcing others to park further away.
They take up too many lots - usually more than 10 in a row - forcing other users to search for lots elsewhere.
They often challenge motorists and have been seen grouping together to intimidate the parking wardens.



WRONG TO MONOPOLISE LOTS
'The use of HDB carpark lots is on a first-come, first-served basis. Nobody should be allowed to monopolise the parking lots and deprive other users, or require them to pay additional charges for the use of the lots.'
HDB spokesman
MAJORITY DO NOT USE SERVICE
'While we recognise that some patrons do make use of the valet service, the majority of motorists (between 3,000 and 5,000 every day) do not, and hence should not be inconvenienced by the inconsiderate actions of the illegal valet operators.' HDB spokesman

 

[DerekLeung]

Three final warnings issued to valet company at Holland Village
By Greta Georges, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 September 2008 2243 hrs

• New measures to improve parking situation at Holland Village

SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board's ban on valet parking at Holland Village kicked off on Monday, after residents complained the operators were taking up reserved lots.

Three final warnings had been issued to one operator, who had continued serving customers despite the ban. If convicted, the operator could be fined up to S$2,000.

The operator had closed after the last warning, but said it will stay in the area. The owner of the valet parking service said: "... because we are waiting (for) the outlet(s) to get approval from them (HDB).

"They (the outlets) are planning to employ us to serve their service, then from there we will decide what should we do after that."

The two valet companies that were operating in the area had contracts with some businesses in the area. Since the ban, the other company had stayed close.

However, some carpark users are still hoping for the authorities to change their minds.

A customer of the valet parking service said: "I always have a specific time to meet my customers over there. So it is impossible for me to wait for an available parking space."

Another user of the service said: "It's not that we can't wait, but sometimes even after an hour, we still can't park."

But with some 10 uniformed and plainclothes inspectors patrolling, users may just have to wait.

- CNA/yt

 

[madmansg]

that is the problem with our govt as they refuse to see the bigger picture but only stick to rules and regulation. This is a govt sleeping on the job and it include the opposition too.

 

[zack123]

This is a rich man area. Let them solve themselves - Walk/take bus/take taxi etc. They have the option to go somewhere else is they insist on driving. Why make such a big fuss out of it? There are bigger issues rather than insufficient parking lots to serve the rich.

 

[PissNPiss]

Some SG residents aslo very tulan that there will be a new mall to replace the old ones. Haha..looks like the good old day is gone. Very soon, Peninsula Plaza and Golden Mile also need to demolish under the name of "revamp".

 

[halsey02]

that is the problem with our govt as they refuse to see the bigger picture but only stick to rules and regulation. This is a govt sleeping on the job and it include the opposition too.

The entire 66.6% slept through the election...'yawn"....

 

[PissNPiss]

The entire 66.6% slept through the election...'yawn"....

66.6 considered themselves as more mature than the 33.3 and they have saved Sinkapore.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Some SG residents aslo very tulan that there will be a new mall to replace the old ones. Haha..looks like the good old day is gone. Very soon, Peninsula Plaza and Golden Mile also need to demolish under the name of "revamp".

Golden mile really sucks. I mean the floor is so sticky i dun even know if they clean it. ANd of course the smell of their thai food and ingredients. I dunno why but the smell is just so damn strong it wafts thru the entire complex.


Oh well if only to get rid of some of these damn "FTs" that are taking up space here.

 

[zack123]

Golden Mile is a waste of good land. If ever they want to build a place for Myanmese/Thai to congregate, can do it in Bangkok.

Its about some some of theold buildings which has no historical significance be torn down to make way for new ones.

 

[tiulehloumoh]

66.6 considered themselves as more mature than the 33.3 and they have saved Sinkapore.

Strongly agreed with your comment.... those 33.3 are real whiner born loser...

 

[PissNPiss]

Golden Mile is a waste of good land. If ever they want to build a place for Myanmese/Thai to congregate, can do it in Bangkok.

Its about some some of theold buildings which has no historical significance be torn down to make way for new ones.

I'm not too keen to keep Golden Mile, but i prefer to revamp it rather than demolish if it's still structurally safe. For Peninsular Plaza, either revamp or demolish, it must be political reason.

I think it's important to have a common place for FTs/workers to gather themselves who are homesick and for destress purpose.

 

[scoobyhoo]

Holland V residents have been complaining about the traffic, chaos and noises. Don't worry this place would be dead as this is what they desire to be.

 

[zack123]

Holland V residents have been complaining about the traffic, chaos and noises. Don't worry this place would be dead as this is what they desire to be.

So what if the place is dead? The crowd would go somewhere else. Eventually everything will be even out. What's so special about Holland V anyway that we need to keep it the way it is?

 

[Cestbon]

I'm not too keen to keep Golden Mile, but i prefer to revamp it rather than demolish if it's still structurally safe. For Peninsular Plaza, either revamp or demolish, it must be political reason.

I think it's important to have a common place for FTs/workers to gather themselves who are homesick and for destress purpose.

Agree with you. If Golden Mile/Little India demolish. Those FT worker will flood Orchard/City area then more people will complain.

 

[PissNPiss]

Agree with you. If Golden Mile/Little India demolish. Those FT worker will flood Orchard/City area then more people will complain.

Ya lor..thus keep them in these "domitory"..

 

[johnny333]

Holland V residents have been complaining about the traffic, chaos and noises. Don't worry this place would be dead as this is what they desire to be.

Cost of importing millions of extra people into Spore lah. The richer class are finding out they are also affected.

Only solution is to vote wisely

 

[johnny333]

Agree with you. If Golden Mile/Little India demolish. Those FT worker will flood Orchard/City area then more people will complain.

How many Spore citizens can afford to live in Orchard???