SINGAPORE — Seng Kang Town Council (SKTC) has said that using cement to fill in missing tile spaces in the precinct is only temporary. This decision was taken to prevent accidents that might occur due to tripping hazards.
This statement was in response to a media query about a post on the pro-establishment Singapore Matters Facebook page, which shared photos of the cement patches replacing missing tiles.
The page captioned the post, “Disappointed residents at Blk 333 Anchorvale Link shared these photos. Instead of replacing cracked tiles with suitable tiles, the town council simply lay concrete instead.”
The photos depict several concrete patches filling areas where tiles had been missing, with lines drawn across the concrete to mimic the grout lines between tiles.
The Workers’ Party-run town council’s decision raised eyebrows among some netizens, yet others proposed potential justifications for the unconventional measure.
One resident suggested the cement was a stop-gap solution to prevent accidents until suitable replacement tiles were found.
Another suggested the situation was indicative of ongoing work, while one proposed that it was a cost-saving measure prior to the next round of repair and redecoration (R&R).
One resident noted the slip hazard presented by the original tiles during rainy days, and advocated for rough concrete finishing.
Another shared their dissatisfaction with another town council which is run by the People’s Action Party, recounting their own experience of repair work left incomplete.
“My corridor ceiling left unattended (half way done) for 6 month. Called in Jan 2023 and was told by the officer after CNY cos workers not available during CNY….Haiya must be after 2024 CNY then workers will be available? BTW here is Clementi West. ”
Responding to the query from the Straits Times, SKTC maintained that the concrete solution was a temporary and urgent measure to avert accidents.
The council confirmed that the precinct is currently undergoing R&R works and has been prioritized for these upgrades.
SKTC went on to detail that epoxy flakes will be applied during the R&R, refreshing the entire void deck. However, they refrained from specifying a completion date for the works.
Explaining their strategy, SKTC stated that it was economically imprudent to spend extra funds on tile repairs, which may be overlaid with flake flooring or stained by large-scale repainting works during the R&R process.
The council acknowledged communication gaps and expressed regret for the lack of clarity provided to residents.
To improve the situation, SKTC assured residents that it would be sharing updates about the ongoing works via notices posted in the affected area.
