<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Route to new MRT station 'poorly lit'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yeo Ghim Lay
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Serangoon Avenue 2 residents find this path leading to Lorong Chuan station deserted. --ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->RESIDENTS of Serangoon Avenue 2 jumped for joy when they heard a new MRT station would open near their homes. Instead of taking a bus to Serangoon MRT station, they can soon board the Circle Line directly at Lorong Chuan station.
The residents of blocks 301 to 319 live just 300m away from an entrance to the station. But to get there, they have to use a poorly lit 1m-wide path, sandwiched between a drainage reserve and a fence and bushes enclosing Chuan Park condominium.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>When The Straits Times visited the area one afternoon two weeks ago, the path was deserted.
Retiree Ho Koon Lim, 62, who lives in one of the blocks, said: 'No one uses the path usually, although you sometimes see people exercising there. They should widen it; it's too narrow now.'
If residents choose to avoid the path, they would have to walk along Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Avenue 3 to get to the station.
But this roundabout route takes 10 minutes compared to the two-minute stroll along the path.
Real estate agent Janice Koh, 38, hopes the path will be sheltered. 'They should install more lights as well. If not, I will probably not use the path when I'm alone,' she said.
When contacted, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman said the path is 'within the drainage reserve and not meant to be an official route' to Lorong Chuan station. She added that the LTA is exploring alternative routes for residents.
The area's MP, Mr Seah Kian Peng, and grassroots leaders are involved in the talks too. 'We are looking at how the path and the lighting can be improved...Something should be done,' said Mr Seah. Residents hope for improvements before the station begins operations on May 30. 'It's not very practical to expect residents to walk one big round to get to the MRT station,' said publishing manager Chiang Yew Kee, 40.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yeo Ghim Lay
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Serangoon Avenue 2 residents find this path leading to Lorong Chuan station deserted. --ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->RESIDENTS of Serangoon Avenue 2 jumped for joy when they heard a new MRT station would open near their homes. Instead of taking a bus to Serangoon MRT station, they can soon board the Circle Line directly at Lorong Chuan station.
The residents of blocks 301 to 319 live just 300m away from an entrance to the station. But to get there, they have to use a poorly lit 1m-wide path, sandwiched between a drainage reserve and a fence and bushes enclosing Chuan Park condominium.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story -->RELATED LINKS
<!-- Audio --><!-- Video --><!-- PDF -->
<!-- Photo Gallery -->
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>When The Straits Times visited the area one afternoon two weeks ago, the path was deserted.
Retiree Ho Koon Lim, 62, who lives in one of the blocks, said: 'No one uses the path usually, although you sometimes see people exercising there. They should widen it; it's too narrow now.'
If residents choose to avoid the path, they would have to walk along Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Avenue 3 to get to the station.
But this roundabout route takes 10 minutes compared to the two-minute stroll along the path.
Real estate agent Janice Koh, 38, hopes the path will be sheltered. 'They should install more lights as well. If not, I will probably not use the path when I'm alone,' she said.
When contacted, a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman said the path is 'within the drainage reserve and not meant to be an official route' to Lorong Chuan station. She added that the LTA is exploring alternative routes for residents.
The area's MP, Mr Seah Kian Peng, and grassroots leaders are involved in the talks too. 'We are looking at how the path and the lighting can be improved...Something should be done,' said Mr Seah. Residents hope for improvements before the station begins operations on May 30. 'It's not very practical to expect residents to walk one big round to get to the MRT station,' said publishing manager Chiang Yew Kee, 40.
