WET MARKET OR SUPERMARKET FOR TAMPINES TOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD 7

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board will consider developing a wet market or a supermarket for the benefit of residents in Neighbourhood 7 of Tampines Town.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Tampines Neighbourhood 7 is currently served by 3 mini-marts. The existing marketing facilities available in Neighbourhood 8 are being expanded to include a new market, which is currently under construction. The estimated completion date is March 1998. When ready, it will serve the residents of Neighbourhood 8 and part of Neighbourhood 7. Thus, HDB has no plan to build a wet market in Neighbourhood 7.

If the residents would still like to have a supermarket, the best option would be to build the supermarket at the lowest deck of the multi-storey car park at Block 730A, Tampines St 71. This is because the neighbourhood is already built up and there is no suitable void deck space to build the supermarket. However, about 30 parking lots in the multi-storey car park would have to be removed to accommodate the supermarket. If the MP and the residents are agreeable to convert the parking lots into a supermarket, HDB can proceed with the design and construction. Residents can then expect the supermarket to be ready by end 1999.