Corridor after clean-up 'feels like a different place'

Now his kids can finally play freely in the corridor.

And Mr Alauddin Rahman is happy about the clear space along the common corridor at his two-room Jalan Bukit Ho Swee rental flat.

The 42-year-old property officer has been living next door to a rag-and-bone lady known as Madam Lily since he moved there eight years ago and was getting frustrated by the woman's hoarding habits.

Over the years, she has been accumulated junk that was packed haphazardly onto trolleys and damaged shelves in the corridor.

After numerous complaints to the authorities did not stop Madam Lily from cluttering the corridor, Mr Alauddin called The New Paper hotline last week, hoping that a report could help resolve the problem.

The father of four children aged two to 10 was worried that her junk could be a potential fire hazard which may block the corridor.

A day after the report was published last Wednesday, the Tanjong Pagar Town Council went to Madam Lily's unit to clear the junk at the corridor.

Mr Alauddin was clearly pleased.

Beaming, he said: "It feels like I'm living in a different place."

His wife and children are also happy about not being greeted by the sight of rubbish when they leave the house, said Mr Alauddin.

"Even my neighbours appreciate our new, clean corridor," he said.

A spokesman from the town council said: "The Town Council has been clearing the common corridor in front of Madam Lily's unit all along.

"However, as she is a rag-and-bone lady collecting junk and recyclable items for a living, she keeps placing the items back after we clear the items."

To make sure the items do not accumulate again, the town council will be paying weekly visits to Madam Lily, a widow with one married son.

FIRE HAZARD

The spokesman said: "We are working closely with the social worker and the Resident's Committee to help Madam Lily understand the potential fire hazard of placing her items along the common corridor."

Last year, 595 fires started from discarded items - down 15.8 per cent from 2012, according to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

SCDF said such fires can cause serious damage due to combustibles such as newspapers and old furniture. Clutter can also block escape routes and hinder fire-fighting efforts.

Residents are urged not to discard items in common areas and to report anyone who does to the Town Council.

This article was published on April 2 in The New Paper.

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