Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th April 2024 Issue no. 1109
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Singapore: food hygiene and public toilets
The Singaporean government is working hard to improve its already impressive hygiene reputation, continuing to suspend the licences of food outlets not adhering to regulations and increasing the number of toilets serving its Park Connector Network - the walking, running and cycling paths that connect Singapore's parks and other green spaces.
Parliament heard on Monday that 132 food outlets had their licenses suspended last year (slightly better than the 137 in 2015 but not nearly as good as the 62 suspended in 2013, according to Channel News Asia, which says that the National Environment Agency conducted more than 148,000 inspections and took enforcement action against 3,200 operators last year).
Parliament also heard that over the next five years, NParks plans to build more new toilets across the Park Connector Network.
"As the network is extensive, these toilets will be built at selected locations that are conveniently located where they can best serve park users and the local community," said senior minister of state for national development, Desmond Lee (pictured).
"The planning guideline is to provide toilets at about 2.5 km radius from any point along the PCN. There will be signs to direct users to the nearest available toilets located at places such as nearby parks, food centres and shopping malls. At areas where such facilities are not available, NParks will study the feasibility of building toilets.
"For regional parks that are meant to serve park users beyond the immediate vicinity, the planning parameter is to provide toilets at every 500 metres to 1 Km intervals depending on other factors, such as terrain, availability of space, proximity to sewer lines, and so on. For public parks where spaces are available and where there can be cost-effective connections to existing sewer lines, NParks will study the feasibility of providing toilets.
Asked by Lim Biow Chuan whether there were also plans for maintenance of the toilets, "to make sure that they are kept clean because building toilets are just part of the equation",
Mr Lee responded "Yes".
11th May 2017