A group of residents in Bishan are standing up against plans to build a nursing home in the neighbourhood. The 260-bed nursing home will stand six to eight-storeys high on an empty field opposite three blocks of flats in Bishan Street 13.
A signed petition by 40 residents was presented to a Ministry of Health (MOH) representative at a dialogue session on Sunday.
Some residents complained that they will lose their football field once the nursing home is built, while others said that the building will block the flow of fresh air into their homes, forcing them to use their air-conditioning units. Meanwhile, the petition claimed that the increased utility bill could amount to S$7.56 million.
One resident by the name of Seet Ker Lay said that his children play on the football field, and if the field is gone, the children will instead “play in the void deck and stain the walls”.
In response, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Wong Kan Seng, said that building more nursing homes is inevitable given the country’s ageing population. He added that while it’s normal for residents to oppose plans for the building, they will eventually benefit from the home’s facilities too.
Teoh Zsin Woon, Group Director of Ageing Planning at MOH, explained that building nursing homes within communities is to encourage visits from relatives. As such, the Bishan site was picked given its ideal size and proximity to public transport.
The Ministry noted that it will assess the residents’ concerns and suggestions, including looking at alternative sites.
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