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Thank you for visiting this blog. This blog is dedicated to solving the parking problems at Marine Crescent.
To the parents of TNS pupils: do you regularly pick up your children from the pick up point at Blk 30 Marine Crescent ? I am sure you have noticed recently HDB is sending their wardens (from their service provider - Wilson Parking) to the car park service road at Blk 30 to 35 especially during school dismissal hours. They are there around 1pm, and again at about 6:30pm.
If you have spoken to anyone of them, they would have told you that they are here because of complaints from residents.
However, I am puzzled:
My child is in P6 this year. I have not seen wardens coming during school dismissal hours in the past. This is a recent phenomenon. And if you observe carefully, I wonder how are the residents really being affected ? Our cars are mostlwaiting along the service road AFTER the multi-storey car park. Have you seen any cases of resident's car being obstructed in any way ?
True, the cars waiting along the service road can be quite messy. However, I am of the opinion that this can be resolved if we (parents of TNS pupils) exercise a bit of self-discipline, and perhaps we can get organised with the help of the school.
Let me propose the following:-
(a) between waiting along the main road (Marine Crescent) and the service road (at Blk 34 car park), the latter is the lesser evil; because waiting along the main road, it will affect a lot more people and the public buses;
(b) it is not practical to require all the parents to go into the multi-storey car park because with so many cars going in and out just about the school dismissal time, it is going to create necessary bottleneck in the multi-storey car park itself. The multi-storey car park is not originally designed for such purpose, the space in the car park is only cater to normal light traffic;
Unfortunately HDB and at certain point in time, the Ops Manager of the school actually think this is a solution. After some careful thinking, this is not a workable option. Just go to Marine Parade Central multi-storey car park (the one next to NTUC Fairprice) on a Saturday morning and you will understand I mean.
(c) HDB must recognise that TNS is a popular school located in a housing estate. It is inevitable that during school dismissal hours, there will be a bit of congestions. Unless TNS moves to another location, or unless there is another plot of land nearby can be developed into a proper parking space - we have to find the best solution within the current constrains.
(d) HDB's senior officers in the car park division have to work with us (parents) and the school, and also the grass roots of Marine Crescent, and not just simply send their wardens. This is not solving the problem.
(e) As for the residents of Marine Crescent, the value of your properties appreciated because of this school in your neighbourhood. If this school moves away from Marine Crescent, what can happen to the value of your properties ? I would say this is a happy problem for you. I have been wondering, there are many TNS pupils (past and present) staying in this neighbourhood. I cannot imagine you are one of those who complained about us waiting to pick up your school mates. I really wonder who, and I would like to speak to the complainants in person to find out what really bother you, or what grudges you have.
Well, the purpose of this blog is to be a focus point, to gether your views, and to solve this problem. So, I invite parents to post your comments. I have set it such that you can post anonymously.
Updates:
I have taken the step to speak to the officers of HDB (Geylang Branch) Car Park Division on 19 July 2010. I have invited them to come to the ground and meet with us.
Any parents who are interested in participating, please leave a comment here.
If HDB is willing to find an alternative way to resolve this (instead of sending wardens here all the time), I will be proposing to the school to form a working committee, comprising of
(i) parents who are sending their children to school by car (it would be good if we can find at least one resident of Marine Parade so that if is a need to, he or she can go see the Marine Parade MP);
(ii) the school's ops manager;
(iii) HDB Geylang Branch Car Park Division officers;
(iv) and either the traffic police or the community liaison from Marine Parade NPC;
The traffic flow along the car park service road between Blk 34 and Blk 30 can be changed to one-way, during school dismissal hours, so that there is less congestion along that part of the service road.
Parent volunteers and the school's ops staff can do the traffic diversion (instead of them standing at the turn in front of the school's bin center).
Once this arrangement is set up, parents should not wait along the main road (Marine Crescent) anymore.
Please feel free to post your views into the comments below. If you did not see your comments below, please check at the discussions pages.
