What’s the rule on holding wakes on roads in private estates?

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), if a bereaved family intends to hold a wake in a landed property and needs to use part of the road outside the house, a permit from the Traffic Police is required. The funeral director responsible for the wake can handle the applications with the relevant authorities.

On Oct 25, I came across a wake along Lentor Loop towards the direction of Lentor Road. This wake was located neither within the premises of a property nor on a road linked to a unit.

The wake took up almost a full lane of the main road. It was puzzling to see a wake occupying a main thoroughfare used by residents of Lentor Crescent, Lentor Vale, Lentor Street and Lentor Place.

SMRT bus service 825 also plies along this road every 10 to 20 minutes. It should be clear to the authorities that a wake that takes up one full lane of the main road on Lentor Loop is inappropriate and constitutes a safety hazard to road users.

Could the Traffic Police and the relevant authorities provide the rationale and reasons for granting the application to hold a wake on Lentor Loop?

This would help Singaporeans better understand the government policy on the matter and the requirements for holding a wake within a private estate, as well as how any inconvenience and disamenities to the residents and road users will be minimised.

As a small and densely populated city state, there will always be competing requirements for space to meet Singapore’s various development needs.

Thus, it is paramount that NEA and the relevant authorities can expedite the upcoming development of four funeral parlour sites. 

The Government said last year this will be done over the next decade. 

I hope that the authorities can complete and launch the four new funeral parlours within the next five years instead. 

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