Town council clears 'excessive items' from Hougang common corridor after Stomper highlights fire safety risk
Items have been cleared from the common corridor of a block in Hougang after a Stomper raised concerns over the clutter posing a potential fire hazard.
Stomper J told Stomp that he was made aware of the clutter while visiting his cousin who lives at the block at Serangoon North Avenue 1.
"My cousin has approached the owner plenty of times, but the person living there is a rag-and-bone man," J said. "He goes down after 7pm to collect discarded items from the void deck, brings them up, dismantles them inside his house by knocking, and then places them outside.
"We have told him about the fire safety issue but he will only stop for a few days before starting again.
"We arranged for a session at the Community Mediation Centre, but he didn't turn up. The next option is to get a court order."
In photos shared by J, numerous items fill the corridor, including clothes hung on racks, several fans on a table and plant pots.
The Stomper added that the clutter is especially worrying in light of the many fire incidents at HDB blocks reported recently.
In response to a Stomp media query, Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) said: "The town council promptly engaged the resident concerned earlier to address the matter.
"Excessive items have since been cleared from the common corridor to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
"An update on the actions taken has also been provided to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
"The town council will continue to engage residents through educational outreach and routine inspections to raise awareness about fire safety, especially in light of the recent spate of fire incidents."
