We share your reader's comments on whether or not HDB gives value to resident's money, particularly for season parking lots. At least one motorist also wrote to the Straits Times forum last week over his disappointment with season parking lots and their availability.
We reside in Redhill , a mature estate with markets, eating places and other amenities surrounding the vicinity. Our multi-storey carpark (RHM3) is just across a hawker centre, wet market and 24-hour convenience stores. There are four, 30-storey point-blocks of 6 flats per floor with convenient distance to carpark RHM3. That's the equivalent of 696 potential households who can avail of SPT's or season parking tickets.
We are SPT-holders ourselves and at times wish that more priority is given to residents who pay $90-month for parking. RHM3 have SPT zones but it seems that this may not equate to the number of SPT holders. It becomes frustrating oftentimes to be parking at a higher floor than non-residents expecially if you come back late tired from work or running your errands. The open area between the market and hawker centre is also a regular venue for activities. Suffice to say, RHM3 is one of the nearest parking spaces for attending visitors.
We wrote to HDB since August asking for explanations and were told that their feasibility study does not require conversion to more SPT lots at this point in time. They say that 50% of the SPT lots during off-peak hours are occupied by SPT-holders. Obviously, residents are at work or in school or up and about during the day.
Does it mean it is intended for all the lower floors to be fully occupied first by both SPT and non-SPT holders during off-peak hours? If yes, why so? Is it for the carpark attendant's convenience or something else?
We have also raised the point how come in other mature areas as Toa Payoh and Tiong Bahru, the first few floors are 100% SPT-designated. Why not our carpark? What really is HDB's policy in the determination of SPT lots VS. the no. of SPT holders?
We feel that it is a good time for HDB to look into this or at least be transparent with its policy on SPT allotment, assuming it has one.
