BMA tears down dangerous billboards

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched its campaign to tear down dangerous and illegal advertising billboards today, ripping out two offending hoardings in the Coliseum area.

Last month Bangkok officials warned that over 100 billboards in the capital could pose a danger to passing pedestrians.

This morning Deputy Bangkok Governor Samart Ratchapolsitte presided over the removal of the two 30x30 metre boards on Yomarat Road, which had been erected illegally.

Tomorrow the BMA and the Association of Advertisers will begin removing the 138 billboards in the capital deemed to be unsafe, a process that should be completed by the end of the month.

The advertisers will be charged for the removal.

According to BMA figures, over 600 billboards in the capital have been erected illegally.

--TNA 2005-06-06

Hopefully not just another purge! Like so much in Thailand, the billboards are very much OTT.

Clear a few away and we may yet again see a beautiful city.

Peter.

will begin removing the 138 billboards in the capital deemed to be unsafe, a

over 600 billboards in the capital have been erected illegally.

and the remaining 462 billboards? Apparently it's ok to erect illegal billboards as long as they are not deemed unsafe??

and the remaining 462 billboards? Apparently it's ok to erect illegal billboards as long as they are not deemed unsafe??   

Like anything else, it probably depends on who owns said illegal billboards.

Update:

CITY ADMINISTRATION / CONFLICTING MESSAGES

Signs dispute billboard safety

BANGKOK: -- Officials from city hall inspected a giant advertising billboard in Klong Toey yesterday following complaints that two adjacent signs made contradictory statements about its safety.

The billboard in question was erected on the rooftop of a three-storey building. On the left side of the billboard, two signs were placed _ one by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and one by the Advertisers Association.

The BMA sign reads: ``The structure of this billboard is not stable.''

The Advertisers Association sign reads: ``The safety of the structure is guaranteed.''

Deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsitte was told by Klong Toey district officials that their office had put up the sign on May 27 to warn the public about the unsafe billboard.

District authorities insisted the Advertisers Association sign was not there when they put up theirs.

Winai Silpasiripon, an Advertisers Association adviser, said his association's own inspection of the billboard had found its structure strong and safe. It issued a certificate guaranteeing the safety of the billboard about a year ago.

He has been asked to supply supporting evidence to the BMA by today.

The billboard is one of 138 super-sized billboards scattered across 17 districts that the BMA says are unsafe.

Sources said the structure of the billboard was initially not strong. Last year, the owner of the structure built two iron pillars to support it. However, the owner did not notify the Klong Toey district office about the modification.

Mr Samart will study the association's documents before ordering further action. The BMA has the legal power to dismantle any billboards it considers unsafe.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-08

We could do with about 98% fewer giant billboards around the country. Safe or not, they are unslightly and destroy the view wherever they are.

...yes OK...in SOME places the view is not that great anyway, but two wrongs still don't make a "right".

Update:

Capital Council prods Public and Municipal Works to take action against of illegal billboards

Bangkok Council Member Pradermchai Boonchuayluah (ประเดิมชัย บุญช่วยเหลือ) acting as Deputy Chairman of the Public and Municipal Works Committee stated thst his council has invited the Public Works Department and Municipal Department to give the latest progress report on the extraction of illegal billboards in the city.

The departments revealed that it has catalogued 304 illegal billboards and is in the process of disassembling 253 of them within a 50 million baht budget given by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. The departments expect the initial 253 to be successfully extracted within next month.

Concerning disassembled billboards, the departments state that if no owners show responsibility for the materials, a district office will sell them and the Department of Public Works will also file fines against the board owners. The departments also said that many of the billboards do not have clear owners and have asked that the Bangkok Council look into the matter to prevent such billboards from being erected in the future.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 January 2008

It costs 50 million baht for people on 200 baht a day to take 253 billboards down over the space of a month? That works out @ 200'000 per billboard, or 1000 man hours.

some of the signs i've seen in bkk look like they;d fall down at anymoment,scary

It's about time.

15 years ago when I reach Thailand, Bangkok was not so much spoiled with advertising. Last month I travelled from phuket to "Krungthep" by bus and I woke up at 6:00 AM in he middle of these more than ugly and aggresive bilboards. What a SHAME! Question to the advertisers: do you really think a human being need this washbrain to buy a car?

Edited February 15, 200818 yr by alainmerret

There is a huge underground economy in the billboard and signage world here.

Govt. officials don't refuse bribes, even have menu prices depending on size. .

Hence the visual orgy and safety issues.

Murders and hostage takings are not uncommon in this business.

Tear down a few while more and more come up.