Why Are The Trees All Cut On Beach Road?

[cathy211]

Is it to reduce falling debris like dead branches and coconuts and/or to dissuade women from loitering in the day?

Any other guesses?

[WaywardWind]

There was a news article a couple of days ago which said it was to allow more lighting and better viewing for the CCTV cameras.

[NanLaew]

All of the above compounded with the fact that the locals really, really do like chopping down trees. Apart from some of those big, shady acacias that have spirits living in them.

[PoodMaiDai]

Yes, they built CCTV cameras on top of the trees and can't see through them.

They also forgot to earth all the new lights and cams, so they had to come back and run a earth wire. You can see them sticking out and into the ground unprotected.

Excellent planning.

[saengsureeya]

Uhm, aren't they about to start the extension of Beach Road (2 lanes to 3 lanes) as planned some 4 months ago?

[toenail]

The city council decided to trim all the trees, including the acacias (which are more like being chopped down to the trunk) in order to improve security at night time. True, this massive removal of foilage has provided added lighting to the security cameras that are positioned along the walkway (if they work) but the "one night only" ladies who are lined up along the Beach Road promenade seem to benefit from this added touch since their customers can get a better view of their assets. (In otherwords, the bright lighting has not discouraged this night time entertainment; infact, there seems to be more of them.). As for the widening of Beach Road, it is another example of the city council being clueless of how adding a third lane will not make that much of a difference with traffic (when the one lane along the sidewalk is already occupied with vendors, motorbikes for rent, and parked cars). Also, isn't the palm tree lined beach promendade (walkway) one of the few things along the beach that is attractive?????? This narrow strip (which is being eroded away) is already narrow, by the time another 3-4 meters is taken away from the beach walkway there will only be about 2 meters width left in some areas. This decision ranks up to the milliions of baht the city spent on the pedistrian crosssing lights (that are turned off on weekends and were not planned out correctly);and the Dolphin lights along Pattaya North which do not completely work. Maybe these unplanned projects are eagerly planned without too much detail in order to give a friend/ relative a contract $$$.

[alanb2]

Toenail:

You really think that the beach road girls benefit from being seen more easily???? They look revolting! Check this out: http://www.pattaya-adventures.com/pattaya-beach-girl.html

[Jayman]

Toenail:

You really think that the beach road girls benefit from being seen more easily???? They look revolting! Check this out: http://www.pattaya-a...beach-girl.html

What a bunch of rubbish... Great 2nd post. Welcome to TVF.

[LeCharivari]

Rather like taking away the very effective and attractive "mushroom" shades that used to line Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, and replacing them with the unattractive and ineffective beach umbrellas. All part of the move to make Pattaya more "international".

[gk10002000]

Looks horrible. The walkway used to be much nicer. Flower beds maintained. Went really downhill once they started that darn night market all the time. Then the extra bright lights is making the darn road a parking lot. Less scenery. Less nature. Just less and less appealing.

[TwoDogz]

You need to stop bashing Pattaya, in any other country you would see them cut the whole tree down and put up plastic trees, but no, not our pristine environment known as the glorious Pattaya.

Who needs shade and trees anyway ? All the birds are sling shot for soup and that oxygen stuff they deliver is over rated.

[pauljones]

Why don't they just arrest the criminals that lurk in the shade of those trees?

Only a numbskull would hack away at beautiful old trees like that.

Isn't there someone at the City Hall/Parks Department that knows better?

[toenail]

Why don't they just arrest the criminals that lurk in the shade of those trees?

Only a numbskull would hack away at beautiful old trees like that.

Isn't there someone at the City Hall/Parks Department that knows better?

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The Pattaya City council members are mostly business people that are busy running their businesses and seeing what benefits they can get out of being a city council member. I would guess very few of them have every walked along the Beach Road promenade or elsewhere in the city. I would also imagine that they look at the tourists as "aliens" whose opiniions do not matter -- only their pocket book. The other factor (a cultural one) is that you wouldn't question the big guy's decison in a meeting or ask questions.

It is too bad the city council cannot have a couple "farang" members to get their opinions when they are making decisons; for, many "improvements" end up not being fully researched or thought out.

[craigt3365]

They're trimming them here in NaJomtien and Ban Amphur also. Those near the power lines. Lots of workers out the past week or so.

[smedly]

I think beach road should be closed to all traffic and be developed into a sea front pedestrian area, move the bagt taxi route to 2nd 3rd road

[Jayman]

I 2nd that!

[pauljones]

The City will add a new lane to assist traffic flow. (actually the new lane will be rented out to vendors)

The City will import sand to extend the beach for tourists. (actually the new beach will be rented out to vendors)

[PattayaParent]

They're trimming them here in NaJomtien and Ban Amphur also. Those near the power lines. Lots of workers out the past week or so.

Just before rainy season they often severely chop back trees to the trunk. Our estate did it last year and now the foliage is as dense as ever.

[kuma]

Shame they are taking down trees, the least effective solution and the most damaging all at once - if improved security is the goal.

As for the extra lane....can it be a serious thought? Shut down the traffic - except perhaps for a rstricted proper amount of public transit.

What became of the plan to reclaim the beach between north and south road and make it 35M wide again - is that still a plan or was it just a dream?

[pauljones]

They're trimming them here in NaJomtien and Ban Amphur also. Those near the power lines. Lots of workers out the past week or so.

Just before rainy season they often severely chop back trees to the trunk. Our estate did it last year and now the foliage is as dense as ever.

Yes. It's a professional technique called Pollarding. Removing last years growth.