See how the greedy Papayas squeeze out the competition when there's money to be made? Just like the mobile food van business. They are kicking out the valets to force the drivers to park at their ERPee carparks!
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Holland Village valets not leaving
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>HDB said the occupational licence issued to them was revoked in April last year </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi V. Selvaretnam
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A parking warden warning a valet at the Holland Village carpark that such services were not allowed. Last night, the valets ignored them despite being told they could be fined $400 if they continued. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE valets at Holland Village have been operating without a licence for more than a year now, the Housing Board has said, and yesterday, they continued flouting the rules despite the presence of wardens who warned them to stop.
The parking wardens, contracted by the HDB, started acting from 6pm. They issued verbal warnings to employees of the two valet service operators in the open-air carpark there.
Each time a valet parked a car for a customer, a warden approached him and warned him to stop.
Despite being told that they could be fined $400 if they continued, the valets ignored the warnings and went about their business.
A warden said that they would keep issuing warnings for up to three days before 'action' is taken.
In a response to queries from The Straits Times, the HDB said yesterday that the temporary occupational licence issued to the valet service operators in Holland Village had been revoked in April last year.
A spokesman said the operators had been advised to cease their business, but the HDB did not take any action.
He added that the board only decided to act after an amendment to its rules in June made it illegal for anyone to conduct a business in HDB carparks.
The spokesman said that another reason it decided to take action now was that it had received negative feedback on the valets from both motorists and residents.
For instance, he said, there were complaints that valets parked cars at lots reserved for season ticket holders.
Some customers of the shops and restaurants in the area had also said the valets sometimes reserved empty lots by standing in front of them and waving away motorists who wanted to park there.
The two valet operators, who have been there for several years, maintained that they were told only on Monday that they could no longer operate there.
Bright red signs stating that such services were illegal were erected at the two entrances to the carpark on Monday evening.
When asked if they would stop operating now that wardens are in the area, one valet, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ray K., said business would go on.
He said that they could not stop now because of the tie-ups they have with businesses which offer their customers free valet services.
Both operators are awaiting further notice from the HDB.
Since the signs went up, however, some drivers have steered clear of the valets, fearing that they would break the law.
Sakthya Services, which normally parks 40 to 50 cars a night, had only about 20 customers yesterday.
The other operator, Purple Valet Services, had fewer than 10, down from 30 to 40 a night.
Wardens who spoke to The Straits Times, however, said no action would be taken against motorists. [email protected]
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Holland Village valets not leaving
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>HDB said the occupational licence issued to them was revoked in April last year </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sumathi V. Selvaretnam
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
A parking warden warning a valet at the Holland Village carpark that such services were not allowed. Last night, the valets ignored them despite being told they could be fined $400 if they continued. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE valets at Holland Village have been operating without a licence for more than a year now, the Housing Board has said, and yesterday, they continued flouting the rules despite the presence of wardens who warned them to stop.
The parking wardens, contracted by the HDB, started acting from 6pm. They issued verbal warnings to employees of the two valet service operators in the open-air carpark there.
Each time a valet parked a car for a customer, a warden approached him and warned him to stop.
Despite being told that they could be fined $400 if they continued, the valets ignored the warnings and went about their business.
A warden said that they would keep issuing warnings for up to three days before 'action' is taken.
In a response to queries from The Straits Times, the HDB said yesterday that the temporary occupational licence issued to the valet service operators in Holland Village had been revoked in April last year.
A spokesman said the operators had been advised to cease their business, but the HDB did not take any action.
He added that the board only decided to act after an amendment to its rules in June made it illegal for anyone to conduct a business in HDB carparks.
The spokesman said that another reason it decided to take action now was that it had received negative feedback on the valets from both motorists and residents.
For instance, he said, there were complaints that valets parked cars at lots reserved for season ticket holders.
Some customers of the shops and restaurants in the area had also said the valets sometimes reserved empty lots by standing in front of them and waving away motorists who wanted to park there.
The two valet operators, who have been there for several years, maintained that they were told only on Monday that they could no longer operate there.
Bright red signs stating that such services were illegal were erected at the two entrances to the carpark on Monday evening.
When asked if they would stop operating now that wardens are in the area, one valet, who wanted to be known only as Mr Ray K., said business would go on.
He said that they could not stop now because of the tie-ups they have with businesses which offer their customers free valet services.
Both operators are awaiting further notice from the HDB.
Since the signs went up, however, some drivers have steered clear of the valets, fearing that they would break the law.
Sakthya Services, which normally parks 40 to 50 cars a night, had only about 20 customers yesterday.
The other operator, Purple Valet Services, had fewer than 10, down from 30 to 40 a night.
Wardens who spoke to The Straits Times, however, said no action would be taken against motorists. [email protected]
