However, some gripes remain, with some residents flagging concerns over pest problems such as rats, as well as animal droppings that irresponsible pet owners do not clear.
Private-hire driver Goh Kee Siang, 37, said that there are too many birds, including crows, in his neighbourhood and it can get too noisy around his home in the Nanyang ward, which includes part of the Jurong West district.
At Gek Poh, several residents have observed pet owners allowing their pets to urinate or defecate in public places, including the void deck and community function hall, without cleaning up after them.
Part-time F&B worker Masita Muzafar, 41, said that it was unsightly to see this, especially since the housing block where she lives – Block 741, Jurong West Street 73 – had just been freshly repainted.
She also talked about irresponsible residents littering around the central rubbish chute rather than tossing trash down the chute. When she witnessed their behaviour, Ms Masita said that she advised them to dispose of their rubbish properly, yet the problem persists.
“I have to notify the town council every time this happens. It takes action promptly, but I think more needs to be done to educate everyone on responsibility.”
Responding to queries from CNA TODAY, Mr Ang Wei Neng – who is vice-chairman of the West Coast Town Council and the MP overseeing West Coast GRC’s Nanyang ward – said that the town council was aware of the situation involving bird populations in their estates.
“We are adhering closely to the steps of the pilot initiative by multi-agencies and town councils to manage the issue,” he added.
“This involves collaboration efforts to implement effective measures like population control, noise and droppings mitigation, disease prevention, and educating residents on the importance of not feeding birds.”
Mr Ang added that the town council is also stepping up its cleaning efforts to address the issue of bird droppings, and to ensure that the estates remain clean and hygienic.
3. MORE PEAK-HOUR BUS SERVICES
On the whole, most residents across the constituency’s five wards said that they were satisfied with their estate’s public transport connectivity, including the number of bus routes serving their neighbourhood and the frequency and intervals of these buses.
Residents were anticipating that there would be increased connectivity over the next few years as public transport networks in their wards expand. The first phase of the 24-station Jurong Region Line – which will cover Boon Lay, Jurong East and Chua Chu Kang – is slated to open from 2027.
However, some residents in the Nanyang division are hoping for more bus routes and for buses to be more frequent during peak periods, such as when students start and end their school day.
Given the close proximity of their housing blocks to nearby schools such as Nanyang Technological University, residents said that it is difficult and a hassle to board the packed bus services 241 and 179 during peak hours.
They have to jostle with students to do so and have, on occasion, missed their buses as a result.
Ms Jasmine Chan, a 50-year-old stay-at-home mother, said: “Every time I want to take bus 241 and the students (from nearby primary and secondary schools) are let off from school … I will take bus 179 (from a different bus stop) instead. Then, when it’s 5pm and many NTU students are going home, I go back to taking 241.”
Mr Ang the MP told CNA TODAY that the team regularly monitors bus services and provides feedback to the Land Transport Authority and the public transport operators, so that they can make adjustments where necessary.
