'Why must I remove them?': Hougang resident clashes with town council over corridor clutter

A dispute between a resident and town council staff about clutter outside his flat escalated into a verbal altercation, prompting police to step in.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the incident took place on July 17 at Block 516, Hougang Avenue 10.

Mr Lim, a 60-year-old private-hire driver who has lived in the block for 25 years, said he had earlier received a notice from authorities instructing him to clear items from his corridor.

He agreed to comply, but insisted that he had only placed a few bricks, pieces of cardboard, and wooden planks in the corridor to support potted plants.

"The corridor space is more than two metres wide, and my neighbours have never complained. So why am I being asked to remove these items?" he said.

Fire hazard, says SCDF

According to a notice issued by the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conducted a fire safety inspection on July 9.

Mr Lim was informed that the items placed outside his unit could pose a fire hazard, obstruct escape routes, or hinder access to firefighting equipment. He was given until July 16 to remove them.

Mr Lim recounted that around 10am on the day of the incident, a town council staff member visited his unit to request the removal of the items. He agreed, saying he would do so after breakfast.

However, Mr Lim said another staff member returned shortly after and demanded in a "harsh tone" that the items be removed within an hour. An argument ensued.

The same staff member reportedly returned again at 2pm, and an upset Mr Lim admitted to using vulgar language out of frustration.

"It's not that I was unwilling to cooperate. I had already moved my bicycle downstairs that morning. But the staff behaved as though I owed him something, and that really upset me."

Shortly after a reporter from Shin Min arrived at the scene on July 17, two police officers showed up at Mr Lim's unit and spoke to both him and the staff member.

15 minutes later, Mr Lim agreed to let town council staff remove some of the items.

Town council referred the matter to police

In response to Shin Min's queries, an AHTC spokesperson said that it follows government-issued guidelines strictly when it comes to clutter along public corridors.

Action is taken based on feedback from relevant agencies and residents, and each case is assessed individually to determine if rules have been violated.

The spokesperson emphasised the importance of keeping corridors clear to maintain a safe environment for residents, and to minimise disputes between neighbours.

While most residents cooperate, there are occasional cases where individuals are unhappy with the enforcement, or refuse to comply. In such cases, the town council will act according to regulations and, if necessary, involve the police.

The spokesman added that the matter involving Mr Lim has been handed over to the police.

43 notices issued in one day

During an inspection on July 14, the town council issued 43 notices informing residents at Block 516 to remove clutter.

Around 30 households voluntarily cleared their clutter following the notices, said the AHTC spokesman, while others received assistance from staff. Inspections are ongoing.

During Shin Min's visit, other units were also observed to have items such as shoe racks, drying racks, plants, and folded tables placed along the corridor.

One resident, who declined to be named, told Shin Min that she has placed items in the corridor for years without any issues. "If I receive a notice, I will remove them. After all, it's a shared space. But I don't think the items I have placed outside cause any obstruction."