Desmond Lim has a "Punggol East SMC" proposal posted on sinpo.com.sg
URL:
http://www.sinpo.com.sg/doc/Punggol%20East%20Eco%20Haven_english_010411.pdfOne suggestion in the proposal jumps out at me.
More public toilets will also be built at all playgrounds, senior citizens’ corners and BBQ areas.
Ok, the line is highlighted in yellow in the PDF, page 2 out of 5, but the reason it caught my attention is how much I take for granted that it is normal not to have public toilets in Singapore.
Around 30 years ago, there's frequent cases of urination in lifts. That stopped when urine detectors and cameras were installed in lifts.
Effective enforcement. But wouldn't it be nice, more dignified and much more satisfying, if public toilets were provided instead? There's several hundred toilets in each new HDB block. Probably would not cost much more to build 2 more toilets for each block; the water supply is available, the sewerage is available. Just lock up the toilets, hand over to the Town Council, and let the Town Council decide which toilets to open for public use.
Obvious need for toilets right? Otherwise, events such as funerals and weddings at HDB void decks or multipurpose halls will not need to rent mobile toilets. Same goes for pasar malam. And for parents and grandparents waiting to fetch children from school. Or for parents and children at playground. Or taxi drivers. Or delivery men. Or postman. Just about anyone.