CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD FROM WEST COAST ROAD TO JURONG ROAD

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing whether he is aware that the construction of a 100 feet wide road from West Coast Road to Jurong Road has started at the junction of the former with Chua Keh Hai Road, and if he will state-

(a) what notice was given to the farmers in that area that a 100-foot strip was to be bulldozed through the land;

(b) the number of houses, fruit trees, pig sties, wells and other assets which are to be demolished; and

(c) the reasons why a 100-foot road has been planned for this agricultural area.

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: I am aware that a main road with a reserve 100-foot wide has been planned linking West Coast Road to Jurong Road, and that construction has commenced over the first 400 yards of the reserve of a 22-foot wide carriageway from the junction of West Coast Road and Chua Keh Hai Road.

(a) On the 28th January, representatives of the Public Works Department and the Land Office visited the area to make arrangements for the clearing of the land required for the first 400 yards of the proposed new road. They visited every householder whose lot was affected, explained the scheme to him and asked him whether he had any objection to trees being moved off the road line. Every owner was told that formal notices had not yet been served but that this would be done and that all property affected was being noted and proper compensation would be paid. The owners were assured that there was no intention to clear the whole 100-foot reserve but only the width necessary for the road pavement and drains and none of them raised any objection. The scheme was also discussed with the local Chinese headman and the headmaster of the local Chinese School.

On 5th February, the owner of an attap house at the junction of West Coast Road/Chua Keh Hai Road began dismantling her house and the bulldozer then started clearing trees.

On the 12th February, a deputation of 3 farmers were brought by a City Councillor to the P.W.D. and were given details of further clearance along the road line. At about the same time the Rural Board Member for Pasir Panjang discussed this road scheme with the Land Office and expressed his satisfaction with the proposed arrangements.

Formal notices were served on 19th February, 1957 in respect of the first 400 yards of the road from West Coast Road. Warning notices have also now been served on owners of land within the balance area of the road reserve to Jurong Road.

(b) The number of improvements affected by the first 400 yards of the road are:- 1 House 1 Bathroom 2 Earth Wells 1 Pig run 1 Pig sty 4 Rambutan trees 3 Star Fruit trees 2 Banana trees 3 Jambu Ayer trees 7 Coconut trees 3 Guava trees 1 Sugar-cane 2 Kuini trees 2 Chempedak trees 2 Jack fruit trees 2 Beetlenut trees 2 Bamboo trees 1 Chiku tree 1 Durian tree

Compensation for these improvements have all been agreed and payments made. The P.W.D. is now engaged in setting out the working boundaries over the balance of the 100-foot road reserve, and when this is completed, a census of all houses, fruit trees and other assets within these working boundaries will be made, owners notified and payments agreed or effected before any further clearance is carried out.

(c) A 100-foot width is a standard planning requirement for main roads and has the same effect as a building line preventing further development within the reserve which may be wasted if the road has later to be widened. It does not mean that a 100-foot wide strip is to be cleared of all assets immediately in order to construct a 22-foot carriageway. The intention is to take only so much of the land at present as is necessary for the 22-foot carriageway, side tables and drains.