Hawkers complain that rent has increased while floor area shrunk after renovations

Stall holders at Chong Boon Market & Food Centre have complained that despite the increased rents for their stalls after the renovation, their stall’s floor area has shrunk to the size of “pigeonholes”.The upgrading for market and hawker centre at Block 453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 started on 1st May and ended yesterday.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) however said that some of the stalls were bigger after the renovation. It added that the size of the stalls prior to the renovation works was 3 sq m. Now, they range between 4.5 sq m and 5.4 sq m.

Stallholders contend that the stall spaces appear bigger because the exit pathway which was previously part of the common property, was now incorporated into the stalls itself.
The Straits Times reported that Linda Kwok, a 56-year-old fishmonger of nearly 20 years at the market, had to shave off about 25cm of the table on which her fish are displayed, so that she can fit behind it.

“I have to walk sideways, like a crab, just to enter my stall,” she said.

Stallholders are hoping the authorities will allow them to place their goods outside their stalls, even though it may obstruct the walkways.