Free housing estates sidewalks – or else

Be prepared to face the authorities if your potted plants or cars obstruct sidewalks.

Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan said in parliament yesterday that Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Town Councils can take action against owners who obstruct sidewalks with their potted plants.

The Singapore Police Force can also fine car owners for illegal parking if they obstruct sidewalks.

Minister Mah was responding to Associate Professor Pauline Tay Straughan at the second session of the Eleventh Parliament yesterday.

Straughan was asking the Minister for National Development if there are specifications for the width of sidewalks in housing estates, especially those in estates with landed property and if these specifications are allowed for wheelchair access.

She also wanted to know the measures taken to ensure the sidewalks are not obstructed by parked vehicles, trash disposal bins and potted plants.

Mr Mah said the Barrier-Free Accessibility (BFA) code specifies a minimum footpath width of 1.2m to accommodate wheelchair users. All new sidewalks built in both public and private housing estates would have to comply with this minimum width.

For private housing estates, LTA has stipulated a width of 1.2m for new pedestrian footpaths along local access roads. A larger width of 1.5m is stipulated for footpaths along major roads and also for Housing Development Board (HDB) estates.

Existing sidewalks in private estates where widths may be sub-standard will be improved by LTA to the current standard where conditions permit.

As for public housing estates, Town Councils – in implementing the BFA programme – will provide a comprehensive network of barrier-free paths to connect between HDB blocks and the facilities and amenities within HDB neighbourhoods.

There are also wheelchair accessible routes in HDB estates along strategic locations such as footpaths leading to blocks near lift lobbies and staircases.

Source : AsiaOne – 27 Apr 2010
Singapore Property