ST LETTER : Ban hourly rated hotels from residential areas

Apr 25, 2010

YOUR LETTERS

Ban hourly rated hotels from residential areas

I refer to last Sunday's article, 'Budget hotels move in... then sex workers follow'.

Budget hotels have no place in a residential area, especially a hotel that offers hourly rates.

The hourly rates are used mainly by sex workers and not by normal tourists or workers. And with the presence of budget hotels offering such rates, sex workers will definitely follow.

The response from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) - that the Hotel 81 and Fragrance Hotel sites in Upper Serangoon Road are zoned as commercial and residential land - is a weak one.

Citizens depend on agencies like the URA and the Hotels Licensing Board (HLB) to plan the development of land. Thus, they have the responsibility to consider the impact of proposed businesses on a particular area.

It was reported that 'in January last year, the HLB banned all hotels in heritage-rich Joo Chiat from offering hourly rates, to curb vice activities' and that 'if a hotel is found to be involved in such activities, the board can revoke its licence'.

Surely a couple renting a room for two hours do not do so just to watch television or sleep?

Alvin Yip