SEVERAL shopowners near the Tambun market are concerned by a newly erected concrete structure believed to be a rubbish collection facility next to their shoplots.
They feel that the structure, if it is to be used for rubbish, is too close to the shoplots and worse, the door of the structure is clearly visible from the walkway in front of the shops.
It is understood that the structure is part of an ongoing construction project of 10 food premises and a parking lot under the Ipoh City Council, which started in December last year and is expected to be completed on June 20.
Shopowner Francis Kwan said although the information board for the project did not specify that the particular structure is to be a rubbish collection structure, workers there told him that it would be used as such.
“When we realised this problem, we sent a letter to the city council on April 5 addressed to the mayor to voice out our concerns about the structure.
“Once people start throwing their rubbish in the structure, it will be very smelly and it wouldn’t be a comfortable experience for us who continue to operate our business here so close to the structure.
“Till date, we have not received any response from the council,” he told MetroPerak when met at the project site.
Kwan’s letter to the mayor also contained signatures from 11 other tenants who are against the structure.
Kwan, who has been operating from his shop for 11 years, also pointed out there is an existing rubbish dump near the Tambun market, which is not far from the new structure.
“It really isn’t an issue for everyone here to dispose of our trash at the existing rubbish dump, because that is what we have been doing for the past decade since we started operating our businesses here.
“I just hope that the City Council can take these concerns into consideration and move the structure further away to somewhere more suitable where it won’t face the front of our shops,” he said.
Engineering firm owner Megat Sharriffudin Ibrahim, 51, whose business operates from the floor above Kwan’s shoplot also expressed his concerns.
“The rubbish dump at the market is very messy and smelly, and now they are building another rubbish dump so close to our shoplots.
“It will be very unpleasant, to say the least.
“If someone were to occupy one of the shoplots here, especially the corner lot closest to the rubbish dump structure, it wouldn’t be good for business either,” he said.
Megat Sharriffudin said it should be common sense for the people responsible for planning the project to place the rubbish dump structure somewhere further away from a public area.
“I’m sure there are other better spots to build a rubbish collection facility.
“The road is also too small. Let’s say if the rubbish collection truck to stops there to collect the rubbish, traffic flow will be disrupted,” he said.
Electrical shop owner Mok Choo Lam, 59, said even if the rubbish dump structure cannot be removed, they should change the direction of the door to face another direction.
“With the door directly facing our shops here, the stench will be stronger.
“I have seen people who would pass by on motorcycles and toss their rubbish bags haphazardly into the rubbish dump site at the Tambun market.
“Who’s to say that the same thing will not happen with this new facility?” he said.
Environment engineer Anuar Hamzah, 45, who occupies a shoplot, is also worried about the new rubbish dump structure being overloaded if the council workers do not clear away all the trash on a regular schedule.
“I don’t think they should have built the structure in the first place.
“What they should have done is to upgrade the current rubbish dump to make sure that it is no longer messy like it is now,” he said.
Caterer Ahmad Ismail, 59, who was seen dropping off his clothes to wash at a self-service laundromat that operates along the same row of shoplots was concerned about the new structure.
“I come here once a week to do my laundry, and I found out that a rubbish dump structure is going to be built facing this row of shoplots. I have to wash my catering uniforms and table cloths, I imagine it would be awful if my newly washed laundry gets exposed to the bad odours in the future,” he said.
After visiting the site last Friday, Ipoh city Councillor Mazlan Abd Rahman gave his reassurance that the new rubbish dump structure built will not pose a problem to the shopowners as it is not open to the public.
“The structure is built specifically for the 10 stalls that will be operating from the new premises here, and the doors will be locked.
“It is not a place for anyone to simply throw their rubbish because the public already have another one near the Tambun market,” he said, adding that the new rubbish dump structure will be managed by the City Council.
Mazlan also said the City Council Health Department had studied the area and the current location where the new rubbish dump structure is located is the most suitable spot.
“I trust their recommendations”, he added.
http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/06/08/shopowners-object-to-new-rubbish-dump-they-claim-the-new-structure-on-jalan-pasar-tambun-is-too-clos/
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