Open land at the end of the proposed art street may be utilised as an urban garden. — ART CHEN/The Star
SELAYANG Municipal Council (MPS) is exploring the feasibility of using art to transform an eyesore in Rawang, Selangor.
If successful, the 32m side lane off Jalan Welman, in Pusat Bandar Rawang, will be the township’s first art street.
Selayang councillor Alice Choo Foong Thye said the lane was often used as a shortcut between Jalan Welman and Jalan Maxwell.
“I see potential in bringing life to the area.
“The owner of a shop which side wall faces the lane, has agreed for murals to be painted on it,” she said.
At the end of the lane is an open plot of land which, according to Choo, is used as a dumping ground.
Although the authorities have not been able to locate the land owner, Choo suggested clearing up the space and using it for an urban farm.
“If the owner comes forward, we can let him take over,” she said.
If all went well, Choo said she would propose that MPS use funds from the state-level “Kawasan Bandar Selamat” initiative for the project.
“The lane is always dark and dirty, with rubbish scattered along that stretch.
“If the lane is cleared and beautified, we can get food traders to move in and take advantage of the foot traffic.
“MPS will be able to solve the illegal dumping problem and it will benefit everyone,” she noted.
Choo said Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat as well as MPS Engineering and Landscape Department officers visited the site on June 12.
According to Chua, the street art project was first mooted in February.
He had thought about using street art to inject vitality into the township.
“Initially, I had proposed the 200m-back lane of Jalan Maxwell for the project,” he said.
“The drains along the back lane need to be upgraded, so I thought about upgrading the infrastructure and beautifying the area in one go.
“However, since that lane is frequently being used by vehicles, we decided to put the project on hold as we would have to divert traffic first.
“That is why we are considering the side lane off Jalan Welman, which is shorter and only used by pedestrians,” said Chua.
Choo said a second visit to the side lane has been scheduled for June 24, this time with MPS Town Planning and Building Department officers.
