Tranquil suburb under threat
THE sunsets on Gurney Drive -- the island's famed seafronting promenade -- are still spectacular.
The pink and orange hues at dusk do not faze daily strollers or joggers who consider themselves blessed to live on an island which offers many Kodak moments.
The question of how much longer these stunning sunsets can be enjoyed by residents of Pulau Tikus (where Gurney Drive is located) and visitors, remains to be answered, as development threatens to claim the view of Penang's skyline soon.
A massive reclamation project on the outskirts of Pulau Tikus, has seen its developer being made to surrender part of the land it reclaimed to the state authorities. The sad part is that the reclaimed plot of choice happens to include the almost 2km stretch of Gurney Drive.
Apart from daily exercise buffs being deprived of their picture-postcard view of Penang's skyline, owners of posh, sea-fronting condominiums on the strip are also likely to end up with obscured views of blue skies, the Penang channel and Kedah Peak which they have been waking up to.
To say that the peaceful existence enjoyed previously by predominantly middle-class dwellers in the tree-lined Pulau Tikus neighbourhood has been altered, would be an understatement.
Rampant and indiscriminate development, teamed with almost daily traffic snarls have ended in an upper-class neighbourhood where peaceful drives, leisurely strolls to the market or hawker stalls are a thing of the past.
The presence of two shopping malls located almost side by side, the conversion of many residential properties into commercial ones and a handful of hotels and hospitals are now choking the roads and turning peaceful side-streets and avenues into instant racing tracks for motorists.
Property prices continue to sky-rocket and affordable housing in the area is fast becoming a figment of one's imagination.
In a bid to bring some sense of order to the traffic congestion, traffic flow has been diverted into one-way routes along certain major roads in Pulau Tikus.
This has resulted in side roads suddenly becoming thoroughfares.
Besides having to contend with increased noise levels and strangers parking almost in front of one's home on a daily basis, pedestrians have found an acute shortage of pedestrian crossings in the area a source of concern.
Picture this: a wheelchair-bound medical tourist needing to navigate her way across a four-lane road to reach a shopping mall.
Even the elderly are sometimes seen clutching to the hands of strangers to cross the road to safety, due to the absence of speed bumps and pedestrian crossings.
Some small business operators in the area have claimed that trade has been affected by the rerouting of certain roads and also the mushrooming of the malls and decreasing number of parking spaces.
An online survey seeking views on how to improve the quality of life in Pulau Tikus has been launched and appears to be a feeble attempt in trying to obtain public opinions well after major decisions have already been made and taken for the neighbourhood.
The defensive stance adopted by some quarters in relation to the state of affairs in Pulau Tikus is made up mainly of finger-pointing or staying mum by those who are in a position to make a difference.
Future generations growing up in Pulau Tikus do not deserve a legacy of not being able to wake up or end the day with great sunrises and sunsets, shady trees or peaceful strolls.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
THE sunsets on Gurney Drive -- the island's famed seafronting promenade -- are still spectacular.
The pink and orange hues at dusk do not faze daily strollers or joggers who consider themselves blessed to live on an island which offers many Kodak moments.
The question of how much longer these stunning sunsets can be enjoyed by residents of Pulau Tikus (where Gurney Drive is located) and visitors, remains to be answered, as development threatens to claim the view of Penang's skyline soon.
A massive reclamation project on the outskirts of Pulau Tikus, has seen its developer being made to surrender part of the land it reclaimed to the state authorities. The sad part is that the reclaimed plot of choice happens to include the almost 2km stretch of Gurney Drive.
Apart from daily exercise buffs being deprived of their picture-postcard view of Penang's skyline, owners of posh, sea-fronting condominiums on the strip are also likely to end up with obscured views of blue skies, the Penang channel and Kedah Peak which they have been waking up to.
To say that the peaceful existence enjoyed previously by predominantly middle-class dwellers in the tree-lined Pulau Tikus neighbourhood has been altered, would be an understatement.
Rampant and indiscriminate development, teamed with almost daily traffic snarls have ended in an upper-class neighbourhood where peaceful drives, leisurely strolls to the market or hawker stalls are a thing of the past.
The presence of two shopping malls located almost side by side, the conversion of many residential properties into commercial ones and a handful of hotels and hospitals are now choking the roads and turning peaceful side-streets and avenues into instant racing tracks for motorists.
Property prices continue to sky-rocket and affordable housing in the area is fast becoming a figment of one's imagination.
In a bid to bring some sense of order to the traffic congestion, traffic flow has been diverted into one-way routes along certain major roads in Pulau Tikus.
This has resulted in side roads suddenly becoming thoroughfares.
Besides having to contend with increased noise levels and strangers parking almost in front of one's home on a daily basis, pedestrians have found an acute shortage of pedestrian crossings in the area a source of concern.
Picture this: a wheelchair-bound medical tourist needing to navigate her way across a four-lane road to reach a shopping mall.
Even the elderly are sometimes seen clutching to the hands of strangers to cross the road to safety, due to the absence of speed bumps and pedestrian crossings.
Some small business operators in the area have claimed that trade has been affected by the rerouting of certain roads and also the mushrooming of the malls and decreasing number of parking spaces.
An online survey seeking views on how to improve the quality of life in Pulau Tikus has been launched and appears to be a feeble attempt in trying to obtain public opinions well after major decisions have already been made and taken for the neighbourhood.
The defensive stance adopted by some quarters in relation to the state of affairs in Pulau Tikus is made up mainly of finger-pointing or staying mum by those who are in a position to make a difference.
Future generations growing up in Pulau Tikus do not deserve a legacy of not being able to wake up or end the day with great sunrises and sunsets, shady trees or peaceful strolls.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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