Give these noteworthy spots a new lease of life: Haw Par Villa and Lim Chu Kang beach

Heng Cho Choon Today Online 9 Sep 13;

Mr Chua Sheng Yang had some good suggestions in his letter on how to preserve the Singapore “soul” and “increase our vibrancy as a nation” (“Enough malls, use land for other activities”, Sept 7). I would like to add some noteworthy places in Singapore that are worth preserving to his list.

I hope the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will do something to resurrect Haw Par Villa, which was built in 1937. In its heyday, it drew thousands of tourists daily. Does it have even 50 visitors a day now?

Let us spruce up the place with clean toilets, cafes and a new coat of paint for the statues. Tourists will then, hopefully, make a beeline for it.

Also facing an uncertain future are Singapore’s two remaining dragon kilns: At Thow Kwang Industry and at Focus Ceramic Services. Their leases were set to expire next year and 2015 respectively, but they were given some reprieve with new three-year tenancies that are renewable for another two terms of three years each.

If they eventually are torn down for development, a part of our Chinese culture will sink into oblivion and the next generation will know about such dragon kilns only from their history books.

Another sorely-neglected spot is Lim Chu Kang beach at the end of Lim Chu Kang Road. Near the Police Coast Guard Regional Base is a rickety pier that looks like it might disintegrate at anytime. At low tide, one can see huge amounts of trash that have washed up on the shore.

I hope the National Parks Board (NParks) will do more to spruce up this beach and build some boardwalks similar to those at Chek Jawa. This will bring some life and vibrancy to this part of Singapore.

More effort on the part of the STB, NParks and the National Heritage Board will bring more life and vibrancy to parts of Singapore. It will also help to boost tourism numbers.