Battle To Keep Phuket Beaches Clear Continues

[webfact]

Battle to keep Phuket beaches clear continues

Phuket Gazette

One of the four restaurants on Kata Beach in Phuket that have been a source of complaints at Provincial Hall recently. Photo: Warisa Temram

PHUKET: -- The battle to keep Phuket’s beaches free of illegal vendors continues to be a pitched one, with each small advance seemingly followed by a setback.

In the latest development, four local residents have set up small restaurants on the sands of Kata Beach with low-to-the-ground Japanese-style dining tables selling grilled and barbecued meats every evening starting at dusk.

Orders by Karon Municipality for the vendors to vacate the site have gone unheeded, the vendors arguing that as local residents they have the right to make a living on the beach.

A different group of local residents complained about the restaurants to the Damrongtham Center at Phuket Provincial Hall, which serves as the Phuket ombudsman’s office.

Municipal workers ordered the operators to leave, but they stayed put and continued to cite their right to make a living. At last report Damrongtham Center officials were trying to find a solution to the problem.

Karon Municipality is responsible for administration at three beaches: the three-kilometer Karon Beach as well as Kata and Kata Noi beaches, both one-kilometer long.

It uses a tripartite committee comprising municipal officers, the business owners and their staff in order to maintain order and cleanliness at the beach and resolve disputes between operators.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12337.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-02-18

[steelepulse]

There's plenty of ways to make a living without breaking the law and encroaching on the beach. I can't believe the Kata Beach Resort people don't have enough pull to stop this seeing as it's virtually in front of their resort.

[madmitch]

If these get away with it there will soon be dozens of copycats.

[keestha]

"restaurants on Kata Beach in Phuket that have been a source of complaints at Provincial Hall recently"

Wonder who lodged these complaints, probably foreign CEO's of upmarket hotels, who are worried that tourists eat at the beach restaurants instead of in their overpriced hotel restaurant.

[grumpyoldman]

"restaurants on Kata Beach in Phuket that have been a source of complaints at Provincial Hall recently"

Wonder who lodged these complaints, probably foreign CEO's of upmarket hotels, who are worried that tourists eat at the beach restaurants instead of in their overpriced hotel restaurant.

As much as I agree with you keestha, this current development at Kata Beach is way beyond that. It would be one thing if they just kept the typical drink stand open into the evening, but it's now over the top with the tables and chairs on the sand. Have you seen it?

[MisterMan]

"restaurants on Kata Beach in Phuket that have been a source of complaints at Provincial Hall recently"

Wonder who lodged these complaints, probably foreign CEO's of upmarket hotels, who are worried that tourists eat at the beach restaurants instead of in their overpriced hotel restaurant.

Really don't think foreign CEO's with an upscale restaurant care about the "competition" of some beach vender. Perhaps there are other factors.

The Or BOr Tor is RIGHT THERE too, RIGHT ACROSS the parking lot from the beach.. amazing.

The sad thing about Phuket is that it only gets worst, not better. There is scarece improvment in most areas.

Well the Boathouse is on Kata Beach but it is Thai owned

[thaiIand]

give a thai a chair, he'll take your whole house..

It's been said a million time in the housing forum. Don't give any freedom to a thai, do not give them an inch of a right to anything that isnt theirs or they'll find a way to take the whole thing.