MPT penakut berdepan dengan DAP, Kenapa?

The Taiping Municipal Council has called off plans to build several kiosks near the iconic trees following protests highlighted in The Star.

Its president, Shahrom Datuk Abd Malek, said the council would now propose two alternative sites at the Lake Gardens to the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, which is in charge of the project.

“We will propose that the project be moved to either the children’s playground at the lake front or near the public toilet in front of the water recreation centre,” he said after chairing a full board meeting of the council here yesterday.

As extra protection to the raintrees, a 600m stretch along Jalan Pekeliling would be closed to traffic, he added.

The council’s decision came after several non-governmental organisations and local residents carried out a signature campaign to protest the planned construction of eight food, handicraft and souvenir kiosks next to the Flemington Hotel car park at the Lake Gardens.

The campaign collected some 10,000 signatures.

Although no raintree would have been cut, the protesters feared that the RM3.6mil project would “threaten” the trees and disturb the tranquil atmosphere of the lake gardens.

Shahrom said the council had proposed the alternative sites due to their proximity to facilities such as toilets and car parks.

“As for the original site, we will look into developing it into a flower garden,” he added.

Shahrom said the number of kiosks to be set up would depend on the site chosen, and assured that they would not affect the environment adversely.

- THE STAR