Clinic In Bedok Fined $1,000 For Leaving Chairs Outside Overnight; Town Council Calls Them Fire Hazards

East Coast-Fengshan Town Council Says Chairs Outside Overnight Are Fire Hazards

Being fined is never fun.

For a clinic in Bedok, they received a hefty $1,000 fine from the East Coast-Fengshan Town Council for leaving chairs outside their premises.

On Monday (8 Jul), the clinic shared details of their fine on Facebook, voicing their unhappiness towards East Coast-Fengshan Town Council.

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East Coast-Fengshan Town Council, however, has a firm stance on leaving chairs outside of shop premises overnight.

They said this was based on a guideline given to them by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to ensure that common areas are free of obstacles when shops are closed for business.

Chairs placed outdoors for elderly patients

In the clinic’s Facebook post, they shared that the town council had been “up in arms” about placing chairs outside the clinic.

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They say the chairs were for the elderly and the sick to rest.

However, things took a serious turn when they claimed that the town council “took the opportunity to catch” them for leaving the chairs outside when they were closed during Hari Raya.

They wrote,

We paid for the yellow box. We do not sell anything in the yellow box nor use it for smoking. Just chairs for the elderly and the weak to sit on while waiting to see the doctor.

The clinic also mentioned that a former health minister had also instructed clinics to place chairs outside polyclinics, so that the elderly can sit down before the polyclinic opens.

The clinic doctor informed MS News that he had submitted an appeal for the fine, but that the Town Council has yet to respond.

Chairs should be kept outside of business hours

When contacted, a representative from the East Coast-Fengshan Town Council told MS News that the clinic was fined for leaving their chairs overnight in the yellow box after business hours, and that the clinic shouldn’t have done so as the chairs are fire hazards.

This is also based on guidelines issued by Singapore Civil Defence Force. They advised all Town Councils to ensure their common areas are free of obstruction after business hours.

Flexibility in waiving summons

The Town Council stressed that they were not against the placing of chairs in the yellow boxes during operating hours.

But shop tenants should keep their chairs when they’re not in operation. Following our warnings, we have issued summons to shops who have flouted this condition under the permit given to them for the use of the yellow box.

Also, the authorities agreed to waive these summons when affected shop owners/tenants agree not to leave their items outside overnight.

Importance of obeying the rules

Rules are in place for a reason. It’s important that we obey the rules because they’re there to keep everyone safe — especially safety regulations. They might seem like a chore to follow, but as the wise saying goes, better safe than sorry.

Here’s to hoping the clinic agrees to keep the chairs at night, and for the Town Council to then waive the fines.

Featured image from Google Maps.