Hua Hin stalls dismantled, owners made to return beach to public

[webfact]

ENVIRONMENT
Hua Hin stalls dismantled, owners made to return beach to public
Wimol Tabkong,
Apichart Hongsakul
The Nation

HUA HIN: -- OWNERS OF food stalls on Hua Hin beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan province are dismantling their structures and moving to zones allocated by relevant authorities.

Last week, the authorities began to regulate the 22 food stalls on the beach in response to complaints that their structures encroached on public space and their food was overpriced.

Prachuap Khiri Khan Governor Veera Sriwattanatrakul chairs the committee regulating Hua Hin beach.

"I have already relocated the beach beds," Thavorn Laikram, a food-stall owner, said.

Pien "Daeng" Komonsilp, another food-stall owner, said she had hired some 10 men to help remove the structure of her eatery from the beach.

"But I am keeping my beach beds and beach umbrellas nearby as I hope to reopen my stall soon," the 57-year-old woman said.

Municipal officials and soldiers are also helping vendors relocate as they strive to return the public beach to its pristine condition.

Hua Hin Municipality mayor Nopporn Vuttikul said his municipality was in the process of designing a walkway and a beach bed zone.

As for the price of food, all vendors around the beach are required to go by standard prices that have been jointly set by his municipality and Prachuap Khiri Khan Internal Trade Office.

"The vendors have been following the price standards recently, and this has won a warm response from tourists," Nopporn said.

He added that any vendor caught overcharging would be punished.

"The punishments will range from a reprimand, temporary closure of their stalls and permanent closedown," he said.

Owners of the 22 food stalls around Hua Hin Beach signed an agreement confirming that they will strictly comply with the rules laid down.

As per the agreement, food stalls must close every Wednesday and no beach beds can be set up on the beach that day, with the exception of public holidays.

"I may not earn anything this week. But fortunately, I can continue plying my trade here under the new regulations," Thavorn said.

Relevant authorities, meanwhile, are also making an effort to regulate nearby beaches.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Hua-Hin-stalls-dismantled-owners-made-to-return-be-30241393.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-21

[sscsamui]

I hope they make it to Koh Samui... They will have a hay day there... The food prices are sky high also.... Beach encroachment are ramped....Chaweng being the worse

[renaissanc]

I hope that the NCPO gets rid of those restaurants which stretch out over the beach and into the sea at Hua Hin. The beach underneath must be in an awful state though.

[LoZth]

Can anybody tell me why this is?

As per the agreement, food stalls must close every Wednesday etc with the exception of public holidays.

[96tehtarp]

"I may not earn anything this week. But fortunately, I can continue plying my trade here under the new regulations," Thavorn said.

I think the solution for the vendors is to employ "runners" who can serve tourists with the conveniences they want, while at the same time respecting the beach encroachment laws.

[monk213]

I hope that the NCPO gets rid of those restaurants which stretch out over the beach and into the sea at Hua Hin. The beach underneath must be in an awful state though.

Do you think the Thai's will remove all of that asbestos nice and professionally? Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos? If they do demolish those structures you speak of, probably best not to go around that entire area for at least half a year, a tiny amount of fibers from broken asbestos is enough to cause severe lung diseases.

[96tehtarp]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

[pedrinho]

after cleaning up the beaches, how about the city sidewalks ? i'm NOT against sidewalk vendors per se : it's part of thailand's charm. but i DO object to completely unnavigable sidewalks, where you can't walk or pass through without hitting your head against stands/umbrellas or run into indecisive shoppers or get hassled by assertive salesmen.

[macka]

Post some photos of offending restaurants as a timeline would be interesting. Or old photos of said beaches

[monk213]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a part of our roof to our house made from asbestos, I told my girlfriend about it and I got a similar look. I had to pull up a load of information online about it.

[PETERTHEEATER]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a part of our roof to our house made from asbestos, I told my girlfriend about it and I got a similar look. I had to pull up a load of information online about it.

How do you know that it is asbestos? If it is old corrugated sheeting, it may be asbestos/cement material but, corrugated roofing material manufactured in Thailand for the past twenty years is of cellulose/cement material as is SHERA boarding and CONWOOD etc.

[blowin]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a Durian farm down south that uses a lot of sprays. I bought all the workers proper 3M masks from Europe they wore they for 20 minutes and took them off "too hot no like" and never wore them again.

[monk213]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a part of our roof to our house made from asbestos, I told my girlfriend about it and I got a similar look. I had to pull up a load of information online about it.

How do you know that it is asbestos? If it is old corrugated sheeting, it may be asbestos/cement material but, corrugated roofing material manufactured in Thailand for the past twenty years is of cellulose/cement material as is SHERA boarding and CONWOOD etc.

old house, the roof may have been redone I have no idea, but it's an old house

[monk213]

I'll post a picture

[monk213]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a Durian farm down south that uses a lot of sprays. I bought all the workers proper 3M masks from Europe they wore they for 20 minutes and took them off "too hot no like" and never wore them again.

So what do you make of this blowin? I am genuinely curious as it is in part of my house so you know... Looks newish if you ask me

[blowin]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a Durian farm down south that uses a lot of sprays. I bought all the workers proper 3M masks from Europe they wore they for 20 minutes and took them off "too hot no like" and never wore them again.

So what do you make of this blowin? I am genuinely curious as it is in part of my house so you know... Looks newish if you ask me

I am no expert on this sorry. But I built a shed about 2 years ago using the same sheeting I asked was it asbestos and I was told no a cement materiel so it looks ok to me. But I am sure some here will know for sure.

[unclesiberia]

.

(I am looking forward to when they reach Pattaya and Walking Street my god they will have their work cut out. The Nang Nual seafood restaurant had a few disputes with city hall about twelve years back but it all went quiet, it will be interesting to see what will happen now. walking street could be open to nice sea views.)

Edited August 21, 2014 by unclesiberia

[monk213]

"Do you think they even know the dangers of asbestos?"

I've tried to educate many working-class Thai people on the dangers of asbestos and pesticides and herbicides. The looks I got from them were as if I was a crazy person blathering on about something that only happens on another planet. Educated Thais are fully aware.

We have a Durian farm down south that uses a lot of sprays. I bought all the workers proper 3M masks from Europe they wore they for 20 minutes and took them off "too hot no like" and never wore them again.

So what do you make of this blowin? I am genuinely curious as it is in part of my house so you know... Looks newish if you ask me

I am no expert on this sorry. But I built a shed about 2 years ago using the same sheeting I asked was it asbestos and I was told no a cement materiel so it looks ok to me. But I am sure some here will know for sure.

Hope so, but I'me leaving in a couple of months anyway, but it would be nice to know as I have been living here for a while. Whilst we are talking about Hua Hin beach and asbestos I have just had a memory come back and hit me. Back when you could still go out on the pier in Hua Hin, I was sat there one night around 3 years ago, and there is that small stretch of beach or 'sand' as you can't call it a beach between the 2 piers. I sat and saw 2 Thai women grab this piece of asbestos that was there about a metre in length, not a new sheet one that has been broken, and used it to sit on so they wouldn't get sand on themselves. How crazy does that sound

[monk213]

Nope, nobody gives a toss.. owel

[96tehtarp]

I've opened an asbestos thread here.

[spidermike007]

I hope they make it to Koh Samui... They will have a hay day there... The food prices are sky high also.... Beach encroachment are ramped....Chaweng being the worse

Yes, Samui is completely out of control, and always has been. Zero law enforcement. Zero interest in law enforcement. The military is on Samui now. Many are hoping that they will do something. Jet ski operators, the Ark Bar, the Green Mango, beach vendors that are unregulated, are a good place to start. Samui is a free for all. The police have always been completely useless on Samui. Maybe things will change? One can only hope.

[spidermike007]

Pien "Daeng" Komonsilp, another food-stall owner, said she had hired some 10 men to help remove the structure of her eatery from the beach.

"But I am keeping my beach beds and beach umbrellas nearby as I hope to reopen my stall soon," the 57-year-old woman said.

In other words, as soon as they leave, and turn their heads, I will be putting up my stall again. The age old Thailand issue has reared it's head again. Crackdowns are only meaningful if they are backed up with enforcement, and followed up repeatedly. Nobody needs these vendors. They clutter the beach, and are responsible for trash, congestion, and high prices. Get rid of them all. They will find other jobs. Of course, they may not be able to find jobs where they earn 50k, 100k, or 200k a month, like with their stalls. But, they will find work. With unemployment at under 1%, no worries about that.

[ColdSingha]

Pien "Daeng" Komonsilp, another food-stall owner, said she had hired some 10 men to help remove the structure of her eatery from the beach.

"But I am keeping my beach beds and beach umbrellas nearby as I hope to reopen my stall soon," the 57-year-old woman said.

In other words, as soon as they leave, and turn their heads, I will be putting up my stall again. The age old Thailand issue has reared it's head again. Crackdowns are only meaningful if they are backed up with enforcement, and followed up repeatedly. Nobody needs these vendors. They clutter the beach, and are responsible for trash, congestion, and high prices. Get rid of them all. They will find other jobs. Of course, they may not be able to find jobs where they earn 50k, 100k, or 200k a month, like with their stalls. But, they will find work. With unemployment at under 1%, no worries about that.

just got back from the beach and its the same as it was before apart from a small walkway throuh the middle. other than that, beach chairs all the way to the shore, food back at old prices (250 baht fried rice etc), dirty "kitchens" and an aggressive undertone from the vendors

a real shame for hua hin and made me wonder if the army/ncpo can't control their "local" beach i don't hold out much hope for the rest of the country

[spidermike007]

Pien "Daeng" Komonsilp, another food-stall owner, said she had hired some 10 men to help remove the structure of her eatery from the beach.

"But I am keeping my beach beds and beach umbrellas nearby as I hope to reopen my stall soon," the 57-year-old woman said.

In other words, as soon as they leave, and turn their heads, I will be putting up my stall again. The age old Thailand issue has reared it's head again. Crackdowns are only meaningful if they are backed up with enforcement, and followed up repeatedly. Nobody needs these vendors. They clutter the beach, and are responsible for trash, congestion, and high prices. Get rid of them all. They will find other jobs. Of course, they may not be able to find jobs where they earn 50k, 100k, or 200k a month, like with their stalls. But, they will find work. With unemployment at under 1%, no worries about that.

just got back from the beach and its the same as it was before apart from a small walkway throuh the middle. other than that, beach chairs all the way to the shore, food back at old prices (250 baht fried rice etc), dirty "kitchens" and an aggressive undertone from the vendors

a real shame for hua hin and made me wonder if the army/ncpo can't control their "local" beach i don't hold out much hope for the rest of the country

Appears the army may not be serious about their so called cleanup. They are smart enough to know nothing changes here without follow up and enforcement of fines, arrests and changes. Nothing. So, maybe it is window dressing after all. Many of us feared this, but hoped for more. Prayuth still had time to show he is serious about the changes. But, time may be running out. Time may not be his ally.