MIXED RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL ZONING IN GEYLANG AREA

MIXED RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL ZONING IN GEYLANG AREA

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(Review): **

23.

Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are plans to review the mixed residential/commercial zoning in the Geylang area, in particular Lorongs 22 to 44; (b) whether there are concrete strategies to help ring-fence Geylang Lorongs 22 to 44 which are mainly residential areas; and (c) what are the KPIs and results that we can expect to see in a concerted multi-agency effort in the area.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: In Master Plan 2003, the majority of the sites in the area between Lorong 22 and Lorong 44 Geylang is zoned "Residential". Many of the sites are either zoned "Residential" or "Residential/Institution", with a number of sites fronting Geylang Road zoned "Commercial". (Note: 60% of the sites in the area are zoned pure "Residential".)

The URA has no intention of reviewing the land use zoning for this area. For sites zoned "Residential" in the MP03, change of use to non-residential uses, such as for public entertainment uses, would in principle not be supported. This is to retain the residential nature of these areas and helps in "ring-fencing" the area.

The "ring-fencing" of the area is also achieved through vigilant enforcement to control vice activities. The Police has and will continue to undertake regular enforcement action in both the odd and even lorongs in Geylang. The Anti-Vice Branch (AVB) conducts frequent checks at the red-light areas and regular enforcement against vice. The Police imposes stringent licensing conditions for entertainment outlets and massage establishments in the area, and also conducts regular checks on the public entertainment outlets to ensure that they operate within the licensing conditions. Although there has not been any serious problem associated with these outlets, Police will continue to monitor these outlets and would not hesitate to suspend or revoke the licence of errant operators. MHA and Police also work closely with agencies such as the Hotel Licensing Board and URA to regulate the operations and development of budget hotels and lodging houses there.

In addition, a multi-agency effort has been set up, led by Dr Fatimah Lateef, to coordinate efforts by Government agencies (such as LTA, SLA, NEA and PUB) as well as the grassroots, to improve the conditions in Geylang. New initiatives, such as enhanced street lightings and installation of CCTVs, have been implemented. The key objectives of these multi-agency efforts are three-fold. Firstly, to reduce conditions that could facilitate crime and vice through better lighting and monitoring. Secondly, to enhance the sense of security among residents by reducing the number of streetwalkers venturing into the residential areas. Thirdly, to reduce dis-amenity to residents arising from public entertainment outlets in the area.