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OLD WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT TO BE USED AGAIN
Residents dread return of noise
January 13, 2009
TRAFFIC WOE: A Marsiling Drive resident shows the build-up of motorbikes at the current Woodlands Checkpoint near his home. TNP PICTURES: KELVIN CHNG
WITH the opening of the new Woodlands Checkpoint, some residents living near the Causeway had thought that they would get some peace at last.
Their joy was short-lived.
The New Paper understands that from the end of next month, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be processing incoming motorcycles at the old Woodlands Checkpoint during peak hours.
Currently, only incoming heavy vehicles are being processed at this location.
The decision has upset one resident so much he sent a letter of complaint to the ICA.
The ICA has acknowledged that it has received a letter from Mr Krishnapillai Raveeohran, who lives in a block next to the Causeway.
The 60-year-old technician, a resident of the area for about 20 years, lives on the 24th floor at Block 37, Marsiling Drive.
Right outside window
The construction area - even nearer his block - is where motorcycles will go when the old checkpoint is used again.
His flat overlooks the area where the motorcycles will pass through - practically at his doorstep.
Mr Raveeohran is concerned that residents of his estate of Marsiling Sapphire will have to endure the noise and air pollution from these vehicles.
He said: 'There are thousands of people coming to work every day. When the new checkpoint was opened, it was okay. This decision to re-open the old checkpoint will mean that the suffering is back.'
Another resident, Mr Simon Teow, 55, who is unemployed, said in Mandarin: 'The motorcycles are very noisy and they affect people who are sleeping after night shifts.'
However, not everyone living in the estate is upset about ICA's decision.
Resident Stephen Wang, 55, a businessman, felt that the residents living near the Causeway should think positively.
'It is not possible to stop these motorcycles from coming in to Singapore. If we don't let them come in, our economy will be affected,' he said.
He even had a suggestion, saying: 'The ICA should get an officer to tell these motorcyclists to switch off their engines and push their bikes towards the checkpoint once they hit the Singapore side of the Causeway.
'This will not only minimise the noise, it will prevent air pollution as well.'
ICA said it was aware of some residents' concerns over the potential noise and air pollution situation in the vicinity of the old Woodlands Checkpoint.
A spokesman said that ICA is taking measures to help address the concerns of these residents.
It is holding dialogue sessions with the grassroots representatives of Marsiling, Woodlands and Sembawang Citizens' Consultative Committees to better understand and address the residents' concerns.
Noise, pollution level to be checked
It is also actively working with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to monitor the noise and air pollution levels.
ICA's spokesman said that ICA will closely monitor the ambient air quality to ensure that it remains within the acceptable level.
There is a possibility that a noise abatement structure will be built to mitigate the noise level.
The ICA will work with the Traffic Police to take strict enforcement action against errant motorcyclists who are found to create excessive noise from honking.
Mr Ali Ugur, 44, who runs a minimart at Block 35, said things are not that bad.
He said: 'It's not very noisy and the pollution is minimal. There are times when there is no noise at all.'
Sing Keng Loon, newsroom intern
OLD WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT TO BE USED AGAIN
Residents dread return of noise
January 13, 2009
TRAFFIC WOE: A Marsiling Drive resident shows the build-up of motorbikes at the current Woodlands Checkpoint near his home. TNP PICTURES: KELVIN CHNG
WITH the opening of the new Woodlands Checkpoint, some residents living near the Causeway had thought that they would get some peace at last.
Their joy was short-lived.
The New Paper understands that from the end of next month, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be processing incoming motorcycles at the old Woodlands Checkpoint during peak hours.
Currently, only incoming heavy vehicles are being processed at this location.
The decision has upset one resident so much he sent a letter of complaint to the ICA.
The ICA has acknowledged that it has received a letter from Mr Krishnapillai Raveeohran, who lives in a block next to the Causeway.
The 60-year-old technician, a resident of the area for about 20 years, lives on the 24th floor at Block 37, Marsiling Drive.
Right outside window
The construction area - even nearer his block - is where motorcycles will go when the old checkpoint is used again.
His flat overlooks the area where the motorcycles will pass through - practically at his doorstep.
Mr Raveeohran is concerned that residents of his estate of Marsiling Sapphire will have to endure the noise and air pollution from these vehicles.
He said: 'There are thousands of people coming to work every day. When the new checkpoint was opened, it was okay. This decision to re-open the old checkpoint will mean that the suffering is back.'
Another resident, Mr Simon Teow, 55, who is unemployed, said in Mandarin: 'The motorcycles are very noisy and they affect people who are sleeping after night shifts.'
However, not everyone living in the estate is upset about ICA's decision.
Resident Stephen Wang, 55, a businessman, felt that the residents living near the Causeway should think positively.
'It is not possible to stop these motorcycles from coming in to Singapore. If we don't let them come in, our economy will be affected,' he said.
He even had a suggestion, saying: 'The ICA should get an officer to tell these motorcyclists to switch off their engines and push their bikes towards the checkpoint once they hit the Singapore side of the Causeway.
'This will not only minimise the noise, it will prevent air pollution as well.'
ICA said it was aware of some residents' concerns over the potential noise and air pollution situation in the vicinity of the old Woodlands Checkpoint.
A spokesman said that ICA is taking measures to help address the concerns of these residents.
It is holding dialogue sessions with the grassroots representatives of Marsiling, Woodlands and Sembawang Citizens' Consultative Committees to better understand and address the residents' concerns.
Noise, pollution level to be checked
It is also actively working with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to monitor the noise and air pollution levels.
ICA's spokesman said that ICA will closely monitor the ambient air quality to ensure that it remains within the acceptable level.
There is a possibility that a noise abatement structure will be built to mitigate the noise level.
The ICA will work with the Traffic Police to take strict enforcement action against errant motorcyclists who are found to create excessive noise from honking.
Mr Ali Ugur, 44, who runs a minimart at Block 35, said things are not that bad.
He said: 'It's not very noisy and the pollution is minimal. There are times when there is no noise at all.'
Sing Keng Loon, newsroom intern
