I AM saddened by recent reports of the possibility of turning the former Serangoon Garden South Primary School in Serangoon Gardens into living quarters for foreign workers.

I had lived in Serangoon Gardens since I was nine months old, and it was my home for 29 years.

If the plans for the foreign workers' dormitory were to go ahead, the face of Serangoon Gardens would undergo a drastic change.

As a current resident of Farrer Park, I regret to say that, with the substantial number of foreign workers working and living in the neighbourhood, the area feels less safe than it used to.

Loitering, littering, drunkenness, poor observance of traffic rules, and large gatherings in the void decks and open spaces at night are some of the common problems they create.

I fear that this situation might arise in Serangoon Gardens once the dormitory materialises.

I suggest using the land the school occupies to expand the neighbouring Tavistock Park; to open a new school; or to build a sports centre.

I urge the Ministry of National Development to seriously consider the needs of the residents of Serangoon Gardens. Practicality must not always take precedence.

Miss Maureen Foo

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