Complaints of cramped seating and poor planning arise after Jurong West hawker centre renovation

The recently renovated Jurong West 505 Market & Food Centre has been criticised by patrons and hawkers for its impractical layout and inadequate ventilation, overshadowing improvements in cleanliness and appearance.

Ms Huang, a 64-year-old housewife, described her struggles with the new seating arrangements with the Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao.

She said: “For someone like me, who is a bit fat, my shoulders touch the person next to me when I sit down. The space is also too small when I stretch my legs or get in and out of the seat.”

Following up on the complaints, a correspondent from The Online Citizen (TOC) visited the centre and heard from hawkers and diners that the new seating arrangements and table placements have indeed created significant discomfort and accessibility issues.

One of the most glaring concerns is the cramped seating. Seats at rectangular tables are as close as 4 to 6 inches apart, while those at circular tables are around 15 inches apart. These measurements fall short of the 8-inch gaps typically seen at other hawker centres. The insufficient spacing makes it difficult for diners to sit comfortably and worsens accessibility for those with mobility aids.

While the Jurong-Clementi Town Council claimed it had optimised the layout to ensure mobility for wheelchair and personal mobility aid (PMA) users, TOC observed that pathways were somewhat obstructed. Items placed by hawkers near their stalls further hindered movement.

Moreover, the narrow gaps between some tables made it nearly impossible for wheelchairs to pass.

The hawker centre’s ventilation has also been called into question.

Vendors noted that the space becomes stuffy during hot weather, a problem that predated the renovations. One hawker said they had requested additional large fans before the works began but saw no improvement. “It’s still as uncomfortable as before,” the hawker shared.

In response to these concerns, a Jurong-Clementi Town Council spokesperson highlighted that additional fans had been installed during the renovation and claimed that the council had been proactive in addressing residents’ needs. However, these assurances have done little to placate the frustrations of diners and hawkers.

The tall open roof of the hawker centre features only small fans, rather than the large fans commonly seen in train stations.

Despite these statements, dissatisfaction among the public remains high. Several diners took to social media to express their frustrations.

One Facebook user wrote: “This type of round chair is the worst design. People with bags have nowhere to place them. Can those who approve the design use some brain?”

Another wrote: “I just had breakfast there, and it is very cramped. After three months of renovation, I didn’t see much change.”

The frustration extended to safety and accessibility issues, including slippery tiles, a lack of handrails on stairs, and inconveniently located tray return stations.

Additionally, the layout design seems to contradict lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which emphasised the need for social distancing in public spaces.

The closely packed seating arrangements raise questions about whether sufficient consideration was given to these principles during the planning process.

TOC also found that hawkers were hearing consistent complaints from customers about the cramped setup.

One hawker commented: “Many customers say the setup is lousy. It feels like a waste of time to redo this.” There are suggestions that some seats may be removed following complaints, but this would further reduce capacity, calling into question the renovation’s objectives.

Adding to the dissatisfaction, a resident, Mr She, 56, expressed his concerns about overall standards in the area.

He told TOC: “After SM [Senior Minister] Tharman became President, I feel standards in Jurong West have dropped; also government agencies are less attentive to our needs. In this case, the Jurong Town Council and NEA.”

Tharman Shanmugaratnam had been in Jurong GRC since 2001 and was the anchor minister before contesting the 2023 Presidential Election.

A Reddit user echoed this sentiment, stating: “I live right next to this hawker centre, and it was way better before the renovation. The new layout makes no sense. Shawn Huang has not done much to address the problems in our estate.”

Shawn Huang, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC, was previously named by Tharman to take over his Meet-the-People sessions at the Taman Jurong division.

In media reports, Huang acknowledged the feedback from the public, stating that the human traffic at the hawker centre would be reviewed to explore possible improvements to seating and table placements.

One might wonder why a review of human traffic is being conducted after a three-month renovation—why not before the renovation? Like many hawkers and diners TOC spoke to, it seems like just a waste of time and money.