Seat the wobbly elderly stuck in banking queues

ONE weekday afternoon, I went to a POSB bank for banking services. I counted 26 people waiting in line to be served. Half were in their mid-50s and six looked to be older than 70 years old. One of the six was inching along in the queue with the help of a walking stick. All of the older ones looked wobbly.

There was also a mother carrying a sleeping infant in the queue.

In all, I had to wait for 25 minutes before I was served.

This is typically how long customers have to wait in most of our banks.

My question is this: Why aren't banks, which provide an essential service, providing seats for those who certainly need them, like the elderly or mothers with infants?

Medical clinics have them.

Fanny Chan Hwang Ling (Ms)

Sacrifice a few dollars and spare the space

I AM disappointed that property giant CapitaLand decided to turn the central plaza of Raffles City shopping mall into a site to locate more expensive shops.

I understand CapitaLand's need to make a good return for its shareholders. In doing so, CapitaLand has chosen to sacrifice communal space for more dollars.

This was a space where people could meet, shoppers could rest their feet in between shopping, and savour promotional or community events. Now, a person can hardly find a bench in the entire mall for some respite without having to pay.

The same goes for the company's Junction 8 mall at Bishan. One can hardly find a bench for a breather except for the paltry three fronting the supermarket.

Low Koon Moi (Ms)

Unsightliness not a reason to ban laundry lines

THE West Coast Ayer Rajah Town Council's reply, 'Adopt proper laundry practices' (Feb 13), explaining its ban on laundry lines is unreasonable.

The council says it banned the washing lines because of feedback from residents and that the lines were unsightly.

I have checked with my neighbours. Almost all of them do not mind having laundry lines.

What's more, unsightliness cannot be a reason to carry out a ban.

Firstly, aesthetics is subjective. What's pleasing to one resident may not be so for the other.

Secondly, aesthetics should not be carried out at the expense of practicalities of daily living.

Thirdly, if the council wishes to cite aesthetics as a precedent, it should form a committee to examine the issue properly and thoroughly and arrive at an informed decision.

Until then, I hope the council will reconsider its ban.

Tan Chui Hua (Ms)