HOLLAND Village faces a carpark-space crunch.

This is unfortunate, as Holland V, as it is affectionately known, is popular with tourists and locals for its restaurants, which offer global cuisines and al fresco dining.

However, just when restaurant owners thought they had found an innovative solution by having valets park their patrons' cars, a spanner was shoved into the works.

Valet parking is an extremely efficient use of limited resources. All hospitals (private and public), many major eateries and hotels use it.

I ask the HDB to consider this win-win solution: Proceed with the ERP carpark system. With this, there is no question of the HDB being deprived of its revenue.

Valet parking will be in addition to and not a substitute for payment for parking lots.

Let the valet system continue, but only under close scrutiny.

Residents and restaurant patrons who park their own cars must not be harassed nor inconvenienced. Fine the valets for infringements, if necessary.

In this difficult economic climate, government bodies such as the HDB should consider themselves partners of private enterprise, and help small businesses survive.

Dr Huang Shoou Chyuan