This is mainly for the residents here, or those who rent cars or motorbikes whilst on holiday.

Was down Soi 0 tonight for a drink at a bar I have been using for a few years.

Barriers blocking entry, so I parked a little further down on Second road.

Asked the security guards what was happening, and was told that from the 11th April there will be a charge of 20 baht to drive through to Beach Road as it was a private road.

Then asked them what about if you were going to one of the many bars or restaurants in the Soi, and was told that you have to get a stamp on your ticket, and would then be charged 20 baht per hour for the duration of your stay.

Double checked this with them, and then asked my Thai wife to do so as well, but they confirmed 20 baht per hour, or more if you do not get a stamp from a resident business.

Feel sorry for the businesses renting property on Soi 0.

The owner or the bar I went to did not even know anything about these charges yet.

Sometimes used a bar/guest house on that Soi for an over night stay when had a few to many to drive home, but will probably stay somewhere else now.

Mike.

Needs a Resident's Association to discuss this with the owner of the Soi - I assume that it is one landlord.

I would suggest that such an RA could negotiate for parking - frank the ticket of the 'parkee' and pay a (reduced) amount on behalf of their clients, as is done in so many parts of the world.

If this is a private, unincorporated road, then the owner has the cost of maintenance to consider and, as it is a very useful shortcut avoiding Dolphin Roundabout, the wear-and-tear could be heavy.

Nice bars and restaurants in that area - would be a shame to see them fold.

The barriers first appeared about 2 years ago shortly after renovation work had been carried out on the large hotel on the right hand bend as you go down past where Bruno`s restaurant used to be.

The road was renovated about this time.

Before the renovation it was like the old Beach road for those of you who can remember this. i.e. unmade and dangerous to walk or even drive up.

The barriers were manned at first and then seemed to be left open.

Since then much work has been carried out to renovate a large number of shop houses etc in the soi and the area has changed for the better quite dramatically.

Looks like the owners of the road are trying to cover the costs of maintenance as the council are not likely to cough up if it`s a private road.

The Regent marina hotel sounds like the culprit for this one. (or some jumped up thai anyway)

If the hotel own the land then theres nothing much you can do about any charge.

It reminded me instantly of the Grace Hotel charging Taxis for cutting through their carpark onto Sukhumwit Soi 5.

For years it was free to cut through from Soi 3 to Soi 5 thus avoiding the main road but all of a sudden they began charging.

Taxi drivers used to get the hump big time and it became an extra toll for the passenger if you wanted to sneak down the back way to the higher sois on Suk from Soi 3 and avoid the he11 on the main road which could put a minimum of 10 minutes on a trip.

Cabbies would protest but all to no avail. Even now unless you are staying at the Royal Benja or one or other of the hotels on Soi 5 they still charge taxis for cutting through.

If the hotel own the land then theres nothing much you can do about any charge.

It reminded me instantly of the Grace Hotel charging Taxis for cutting through their carpark onto Sukhumwit Soi 5.

For years it was free to cut through from Soi 3 to Soi 5 thus avoiding the main road but all of a sudden they began charging.

Taxi drivers used to get the hump big time and it became an extra toll for the passenger if you wanted to sneak down the back way to the higher sois on Suk from Soi 3 and avoid the he11 on the main road which could put a minimum of 10 minutes on a trip.

Cabbies would protest but all to no avail. Even now unless you are staying at the Royal Benja or one or other of the hotels on Soi 5 they still charge taxis for cutting through.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But this is the point I was trying to make above - that anyone doing business in the Soi should be able to work some better rates out with the owner, and absorb the cost within his charges to the customers. If you want to go to a restaurant or bar there, and know that you are going to be charged by the hour, you may very well seek an alternative venue.

So the restaurant loses your custom, has little passing trade, folds, owner of property loses rental income. Typical story of local non-comprehension of basic business practice - make it easy for punters to spend money and enjoy themselves.

Probably brought about by the number of customers of the Differ pub parking their cars in the soi

(the place does a roaring trade)