In a dramatic turn of events, rubbish collection at Singapore's Parklane Shopping Mall has hit a snag thanks to the owner of the access road, Kosma Holdings, who has begun imposing hefty fees on garbage trucks.

The situation escalated when Kosma not only started charging daily parking fees ranging from $20 to $100, but also installed barriers that prevented garbage bins from being wheeled out to waiting trucks, causing chaos in waste management operations.

On September 17, High Court Judge Philip Jeyaretnam weighed in, declaring Kosma’s actions “unreasonable” and detrimental to the mall's functionality. This ruling came after the management corporation of the mall filed a lawsuit seeking a legal right of way to ensure the smooth operation of garbage trucks.

Lawyer Subir Singh Grewal, representing the management corporation, argued that a legislative provision from 2019 gave the court the authority to establish a right of way if deemed necessary for land use. Besides seeking an easement, they demanded that Kosma halt vehicle access restrictions and revoke $6,000 in penalties for alleged unauthorized entries.

Justice Jeyaretnam responded favorably to the management's claims, stating that it was “categorically necessary” for refuse collection and reasonable for loading and unloading activities to make use of the service road.

While the judge recognized valid points in the management's favor regarding public interest and potential compensation for Kosma, he noted that they had not exhausted all avenues to negotiate directly with the landowner. He promised to grant the right of way if the management corporation could demonstrate they had made all reasonable attempts to resolve the matter without court intervention.

This ongoing legal saga revolves around Parklane Mall, which was originally built in the 1970s. The service road and the mall were once a part of the same property until they were divided in 1982. Over the years, the ownership of the service road has changed hands multiple times before Kosma acquired it in 2021.

Before Kosma took over, garbage trucks were granted access without additional fees, a practice they controversially reversed, igniting frustration among mall tenants and patrons. Last year, Kosma's subsidiary, K Parking, even began imposing parking fees on garbage trucks, mimicking the rates for other vehicles.

The court ruling also addressed Kosma's extensive control measures on the service road, which included installing a fence, bollards, and grilles. Furthermore, last February, Kosma notified the management that access permission was now at their discretion, requiring suppliers to comply with strict insurance policies.

As this case unfolds, both parties have been granted time to propose solutions and discuss potential easement arrangements, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in this high-stakes legal drama.