Laem Ka Beach - Closed?

[Old Croc]

Took a visitor down this road to show him this beach in Rawai today, but, where once there was a boom gate, we were confronted by a very closed gate festooned with closure signs . Tried the Ka Villas road, but was turned back by a security guard.

I know you have to go via this private land to get to the beach, but it has always been accessible previously. Last time I went the carpark looked like a rubbish dump as it was used by bus drivers waiting for their Chinese herds to return from their boat tours. Perhaps this is a reason for closure?

Does anyone know what is the situation with this beach?

[Jimi007]

I had read and saw a photo of the gates being closed about a month ago. I went about two months ago and it was open. They had already banned the Chinese tour groups from getting on their speedboats there, now they block off a section of Rawai Beach and have guys with red flags escort the oblivious Chinese tourists across the road. I really don't know what happened, but as you say, no access now, which sucks!

[paahlman]

best to take a longtail in maybe...

[fiddlehead]

Yeah,  a real bummer as I used to walk there a lot in the mornings. 

I get a feeling that whoever owns the land is finally deciding to build something there although it's just a feeling. 
It's beautiful land and a shame that beautiful little beach is now inaccessible except by boat. 

And the Evason property won't let you go through to access it from that side. 

 

[Old Croc]

2 hours ago, fiddlehead said:

Yeah,  a real bummer as I used to walk there a lot in the mornings. 

I get a feeling that whoever owns the land is finally deciding to build something there although it's just a feeling. 
It's beautiful land and a shame that beautiful little beach is now inaccessible except by boat. 

And the Evason property won't let you go through to access it from that side. 

 

I had a thought that maybe the new resort owners of the old Evason property may have leased the land to get their own private beach.

[eezergood]

Just now, Old Croc said:

I had a thought that maybe the new resort owners of the old Evason property may have leased the land to get their own private beach.

The Evason property was in discussions to re-brand/ re-open. Perhaps they have reached an accord

[Old Croc]

17 hours ago, paahlman said:

best to take a longtail in maybe...

Thanks, should have thought of that.

Then again, if I was going to rent a boat nearby to get to a beach I'd probably go to Koh Lon or Coral Island.

[Old Croc]

5 minutes ago, eezergood said:

The Evason property was in discussions to re-brand/ re-open. Perhaps they have reached an accord

Yes, I think that's coming soon, but I was speculating they may have done a deal with the next door owners of the headland to get the beach as well.

Edited May 25, 2018 by Old Croc

[fiddlehead]

If Evason plans to reopen, they have a LOT of work to do. 
Almost all the roofs and stairways are ruined from no maintenance all these years. 

Down by the beach anyway. 
They've spent a lot of money on security round the clock but none on maintenance, and , what's it been 6 or 7 years now since they closed? 

I'm thinking more along the lines of whoever owns that peninsula (the one with the new gate), is who closed it off.  
 

[Old Croc]

25 minutes ago, fiddlehead said:

If Evason plans to reopen, they have a LOT of work to do. 
Almost all the roofs and stairways are ruined from no maintenance all these years. 

Down by the beach anyway. 
They've spent a lot of money on security round the clock but none on maintenance, and , what's it been 6 or 7 years now since they closed? 

I'm thinking more along the lines of whoever owns that peninsula (the one with the new gate), is who closed it off.  
 

I hadn't realized the Evason was in such a bad state of repair. I had heard new owners are to reopen it.  When, is a moot point.

I'm sure the people who own the land closed it off, I was just speculating that the beach may be earmarked for private use.

This article, albeit dated, makes interesting reading about possible futures for the Evason land and the adjoining property.

https://www.c9hotelworks.com/news/singapore-group-acquires-evason-phuket-resort.php

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by Old Croc

[paahlman]

4 hours ago, Old Croc said:

I had a thought that maybe the new resort owners of the old Evason property may have leased the land to get their own private beach.

Very very much possible..

[merijn]

But nothing should stop you of going to the beach by boat.

After all it is a public beach.

[Old Croc]

9 hours ago, merijn said:

But nothing should stop you of going to the beach by boat.

After all it is a public beach.

I think virtually all expats are aware you can get to beaches by boat.

But why should you have to?  Very few people visiting or living on this Island are going to rent a boat to sit on a beach!  Laem Ka is possibly the only beach on the east  coast suitable for swimming and now it is inaccessible by land.

On Phuket, more and more often, big money is buying land adjacent to these beaches, building resorts and condominiums and cutting off the land access to the public. We can all name places where the public has been excluded in recent years. The effect is they are basically stealing these beaches from all but their clients/residents.

Why are they allowed to do so? There should be legislation to insist the public retains reasonable access without having to walk miles or boat in.

[paahlman]

On 5/25/2018 at 4:27 AM, Old Croc said:

Thanks, should have thought of that.

Then again, if I was going to rent a boat nearby to get to a beach I'd probably go to Koh Lon or Coral Island.

100% agreed and it was more of a joke from me... I mean.. It costs something to rent a boat for a day too. It should be accesible by land of course.

[eezergood]

On 5/29/2018 at 3:17 PM, paahlman said:

100% agreed and it was more of a joke from me... I mean.. It costs something to rent a boat for a day too. It should be accesible by land of course.

If it was your land, would you want 100's of people walking through ?? I too like(d) this beach, but can also understand the owners point of view. Particularly given that many folks leave a trail of destruction as they go .......

[paahlman]

6 hours ago, eezergood said:

If it was your land, would you want 100's of people walking through ?? I too like(d) this beach, but can also understand the owners point of view. Particularly given that many folks leave a trail of destruction as they go .......

The law is actually not good or specific enough. Cases like this are probably more complicated than just opening up or closing down for private use. This land was probably owned since the 40`s... and that law is grandfathered even if it isnt the same anymore. 

 

I think now there is a regulation that you need to make a pathway accesible if there is a public beach connected to your property, but not sure..

 

If you own a road, but not the land around there is a limit on how many houses built before you as a private owner have to give away the road to the government for free.. That is also a rather intricate and mystic law. Meaning one owner can not stop access points to all houses built for his or hers own benefit.. 

[beechbum]

Well that sux, the little bloke and I love going for a dip and he loves wetting a line there as well, hopefully it re-opens soon.

As stated, the idiots who can't seem to dispose of their rubbish and the bus crew may have ruined it for the majority or maybe big business with a again!