Woodlands heartland retailers fear RTS Link impact as sales slow and costs rise

Woodlands Mart, a neighbourhood mall in the area, has seen visitor numbers rise during events held at its atrium.

Retailers there said more of such activities could help raise awareness of the heartland mall and draw more visitors, particularly once the RTS Link opens.

Sembawang West Member of Parliament Poh Li San acknowledged that some businesses may be more affected than others when the RTS Link opens.

“We will take this chance to work with them to see how we can help them, in terms of managing their business costs, (bringing) more footfall … (and) items that will also benefit the residents.”

Woodlands Mart, which is nearly three decades old, is also preparing for the future with plans for a facelift.

These include upgraded escalators, toilets, and, possibly, a sheltered event space, alongside efforts to refresh the mall’s tenant mix.

Grassroots leaders are exploring ways to inject more vibrancy into the area.

Ms Poh said: “I think all in all, it is about how we can really create hyper-local kinds of activities that are very well coordinated with their lifestyles … to make it more convenient and comprehensive for our residents.”