Pattaya officials given time to clean up beach, but military is watching

PATTAYA:--Thailand’s military regime appears willing to give Pattaya officials time to bring order to the city’s beaches, but remain poised to move in should the effort go the way of so many other crackdowns.

While the National Council for Peace and Order sent soldiers to remove beach vendors and dismantle illegal structures in Phuket, the military so far has taken a hands-off approach to umbrella-dotted Pattaya and Jomtien beaches. The NCPO ordered city officials to clean up the beach and have assigned the Royal Thai Navy to keep tabs on their efforts. So, at least for now, the military has no plans to take direct action.

Local leaders know that could change in a heartbeat, though, and are quickly moving to reshape the image of the beach, both on the sand and the footpath behind it.

“We must increase the number of police used in previous years to help eliminate prostitution on Pattaya Beach and to prevent other crimes, such as druggings, robberies and bag snatches so we create a better image for the city and attract more tourists,” said Pol. Col. Supathee Bungkhrung, who was hand-picked by the NCPO to be Pattaya’s police chief in late May.

Supathee on Aug. 19 launched the first in a series of sweeps of Pattaya Beach, rounding up transvestite loiterers suspected of being both prostitutes and thieves. Police are limited by current laws in what they can be charged with, so police have resorted to simply making it unprofitable for them to continue to hang out on Beach Road by repeatedly rounding them up and fining them 100 baht.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/pattaya-officials-given-time-to-clean-up-beach-but-military-is-watching-40900#sthash.efSWSVuL.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2014-09-05

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

Not really. I would have thought that they were giving the authorities the chance to put their money where their mouth is, and if isn't good enough by a certain time then the military WILL take it over.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

Maybe they realise there is no point......Pattaya is a lost cause?

How can military or anyone else expect Pattaya City to undertake a long over due clean-up of Pattaya Beach when they are too busy holding press conferences on Waterfront. This is a building which the Mayor admits has all the necessary permits, does not contravene height restrictions and the developer has been open and transparent. Construction has been suspended.

Where is the press conference and blaze of publicity on the big Pattaya clean-up, don't talk about action. Jetski scams, over supply of beaach umbrella ( a real eyesore not to mention the scams they use), rats on the promenade, street prostitution (I have nothing against prostitution, but not in your face on the streets). Then there is Walking Street. Maybe the structures on the sea side are legal; maybe not, but for sure the extentions onto the beach are not. Have they been forced to suspend operation?

Is the fuss over Waterfront designed to divert attention from other problems which City Hall cannot or will not deal with? Don't expect action any time soon.

Pattaya will have to follow the same path as Phuket. If not there will be many people questioning why Phuket and not Pattaya. I would guess we will see some real action in the very near future.

Pattaya will have to follow the same path as Phuket. If not there will be many people questioning why Phuket and not Pattaya. I would guess we will see some real action in the very near future.

You might be right. I meant no action by City Hall. At least the Mayor can say he is cleaning up Pattaya - look at Waterfront.

Phuket is probably a much deeper dump than Pattaya is. And Pattaya is a real cash cow for many BKK people, too.

A little more delicate to handle this place. And hopefully they just keep it as it is, but theft and robberies.

LIGHT IT UP. The beach should be floodlit from top to bottom.

crude innuendo post removed

How can military or anyone else expect Pattaya City to undertake a long over due clean-up of Pattaya Beach when they are too busy holding press conferences on Waterfront. This is a building which the Mayor admits has all the necessary permits, does not contravene height restrictions and the developer has been open and transparent. Construction has been suspended.

Where is the press conference and blaze of publicity on the big Pattaya clean-up, don't talk about action. Jetski scams, over supply of beaach umbrella ( a real eyesore not to mention the scams they use), rats on the promenade, street prostitution (I have nothing against prostitution, but not in your face on the streets). Then there is Walking Street. Maybe the structures on the sea side are legal; maybe not, but for sure the extentions onto the beach are not. Have they been forced to suspend operation?

Is the fuss over Waterfront designed to divert attention from other problems which City Hall cannot or will not deal with? Don't expect action any time soon.

Are you certain of your assertions?

The law is clear on the maximum size of the footprint of buildings withing the construction control zone - 75% must be open and uncovered. Since this a 2 rai (3,200 SqM) plot, the maximum footprint should be 800 square meters. I don't have access to the architectural documents, but it certainly looks like more than that from the photos I have seen.

They may well have permits, but if those permits were issued in error, then the developers may well be in trouble given the enforcement vigor that the military government has brought to the table.

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

They have already given you the answer in the article. A military appointed police chief!!!!!!

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

yes this was the tipping point for me

when Pattaya gets cleaned up then we know where the real power is

I was hoping for some of the buildings to be torn down for being to closed to the beach

How can military or anyone else expect Pattaya City to undertake a long over due clean-up of Pattaya Beach when they are too busy holding press conferences on Waterfront. This is a building which the Mayor admits has all the necessary permits, does not contravene height restrictions and the developer has been open and transparent. Construction has been suspended.

Where is the press conference and blaze of publicity on the big Pattaya clean-up, don't talk about action. Jetski scams, over supply of beaach umbrella ( a real eyesore not to mention the scams they use), rats on the promenade, street prostitution (I have nothing against prostitution, but not in your face on the streets). Then there is Walking Street. Maybe the structures on the sea side are legal; maybe not, but for sure the extentions onto the beach are not. Have they been forced to suspend operation?

Is the fuss over Waterfront designed to divert attention from other problems which City Hall cannot or will not deal with? Don't expect action any time soon.

Are you certain of your assertions?

The law is clear on the maximum size of the footprint of buildings withing the construction control zone - 75% must be open and uncovered. Since this a 2 rai (3,200 SqM) plot, the maximum footprint should be 800 square meters. I don't have access to the architectural documents, but it certainly looks like more than that from the photos I have seen.

They may well have permits, but if those permits were issued in error, then the developers may well be in trouble given the enforcement vigor that the military government has brought to the table.

I was referring to what the Mayor said. If he was wrong then City and Provincial governments have a lot to answer for, not to mention pay for.

This thread is not about Waterfront. Mainly I was referring to double standards in enforcement by using the Waterfront example.

whats the big deal about the buildings on the beach, are people really wanting to go sunbathing there or what? sure they should have a council organized sewage system instead of straight into the sea but walking street will lose a lot of business if one side of it disappears

I see no changes with the umbrellas or jetski scams so far, its going to take more then talk to change them as the past has proven many times

Edited September 5, 201411 yr by slygeeza

whats the big deal about the buildings on the beach, are people really wanting to go sunbathing there or what? sure they should have a council organized sewage system instead of straight into the sea but walking street will lose a lot of business if one side of it disappears

You might have a point. If they cleared the illegal buildings over the beach there would be more room for umbrellas and jet ski scams.

as a point of interest, there is an area of beach between the end of walking st and bali hai that has been allowed to return to its natural state, which is vegetation down to the high tide line, its quite interesting to visit but the point is that that area is not a natural sandy beach made for beach goers

I fail to see how all of these changes will increase tourism. People who visit Pattaya are not going there to enjoy fine beaches and scenery whatever they do to the beach it will never qualify. Pattaya will never lose it's reputation and will never attract family oriented tourism in any numbers. It is what it is. However in saying that the cleanup involving the removal of threats such as ladyboy hassle, bag snatchers etc is surely a good thing for all. I just don't see why the authorities would expect any huge increase in tourism as a result. In fact when they go too far (and they will) by getting rid of all the gogo bars and severely restricting beer bar activities there will be surely a dramatic decrease in visitors. These missing visitors will never be replaced with families, there are just too many nice alternative places to holiday.

Den

Phuket is probably a much deeper dump than Pattaya is. And Pattaya is a real cash cow for many BKK people, too.

A little more delicate to handle this place. And hopefully they just keep it as it is, but theft and robberies.

Phuket is not a deeper or worse dump than Pattaya. Apart from parts of Patong there are many fantastic areas of beauty and interest. But from the tone of your post I'm guessing you're mainly there for the slags as you want to keep it as it is except for the theft and robberies. Perhaps you could enlighten us as to why it's good for the army to bulldoze beach bars and restaurants in Phuket but not Pattaya?

1/. Pattaya Beach is disgusting. If you do not believe me go to the Beach opposite Mike Department store in Beach Road at dusk and from the boardwalk look down onto the sand and see dozens of RATS scurrying around eating scraps left by those laying on the beach during the daytime. Suggest get rid of the real RATs the fourlegged ones that are a plague on the beach at dusk and during the night.

2./ Pattaya City rubbish removal is also disgusting and likely to cause a severe disease outbreak. The rubbish collectors instead of just picking up the trash bags and putting them into the compactor truck split the bags open in the road and do their own scavenging. By splitting the bags open there is putrid waste spilled all over the road the truck drives off leaving the mess on the road and forcing the pedestrians to walk through this waste or the shopowners to hose off this mess. Pattaya City needs to employ contracters who will just remove the rubbish and not scavenge in the middle of the road.

3./ Music outside bar beers and guest house style bars. Bar beers use the excuse of someones birthday to employ a DJ with the biggest and loudest boom box speakers with the base woofer turned up to the max this noise can be heard blocks away. This music is often til 3 am. The Bar beer or small bar does not have an entertainment licence whereas Ago go bars pay for a licence and their music is behind closed doors. Pattaya City need some noise control over these unlicensed bars.

If they take the umbrellas away from Jomthien, you won't see me there. We usually go with 6-10 people, get a table, eat and drink while the kids go playing in the sea. Can't be arsed to have any picnic thingy.

By all means clean up the beach but I wonder if any attention could be paid to Jomtien: Huge, deep holes in the sidewalks, the holes so old 5 foot tall weeds are growing in them; when you are not falling in the gaping holes you are being hit in the head by all the signs blocking the sidewalks; Jomtien Second Road so dirty grass is growing in the street; sidewalks all poorly constructed and so filled with weeds its hard to see there are actually sidewalks; large stretch of Jomtien Second Road has street lights but they have never worked; 30 to 40 roaming stray dogs on southern part of Jomtien Beach Road; traffic lights poorly timed--sometimes turn from green to red before the second car gets thru the intersection; horrible ugly traffic barriers all over the city--some awful concrete and some awful metal and all placed haphazardly; inadequate, very unsafe U Turn lanes--most only wide enough for a motorcycle; awful, old trash cans everywhere most with no lids and never enough of them--why not replace them with ad sponsored new, more numerous ones?; bus stops on the streets but no buses--pity the tourist who stands there waiting in vain for a non-existent bus; no traffic enforcement anywhere--in 4 years I have never seen a car pulled over for any traffic infraction, just motorcycle riders with no helmet; I could go on and on but really everything you look at is so poorly done. And I know someone will write in and say if i dont like living here MOVE! I DO like living here but there's no harm in pointing out areas for improvement. Pattaya can do better.

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

Maybe they realise there is no point......Pattaya is a lost cause?

I certainly hope so

Interesting the way the military seems to have backed off Pattaya unlike Phuket where they steamed in head first

Maybe they realise there is no point......Pattaya is a lost cause?

I certainly hope so

They really ought to cut the family destination &lt;deleted&gt; and make Pattaya a special administration area with it's own rules. The Sin City #1 it deserves to be.

If they take the umbrellas away from Jomthien, you won't see me there. We usually go with 6-10 people, get a table, eat and drink while the kids go playing in the sea. Can't be arsed to have any picnic thingy.

And I'm sure you will be sadly missed

If they take the umbrellas away from Jomthien, you won't see me there. We usually go with 6-10 people, get a table, eat and drink while the kids go playing in the sea. Can't be arsed to have any picnic thingy.

And I'm sure you will be sadly missed

Me and the hordes from BKK who come for exactly the same thing. Make it a deserted beach and that's exactly what it will be.

Last night at sunset, myself and a friend took a walk on the beach side of Beach Road from Central Festival to Soi 13/4.

Rats in the sand were scampering about - in twos, threes and in literal families, as they dined on the waste left scattered about or conveniently placed in plastic baskets by the beach chair concessionaires.

The larger ones left designs in the sand, made by their fat tails, as they roamed freely and oblivious to our nearby presence.

Some local folks reclined on their straw mats, apparently unconcerned that these four-legged scavengers were within arms reach, or that their tom yam condiments may have inadvertently included rats droppings, urine and fleas.

Rats and other vermin are an unavoidable consequence of human habitation, as is the garbage that is a byproduct of our numbers.

Perhaps the TAT brochures that depict Pattaya and Jomtien as sun drenched destinations, should include disclaimers that the rats are indeed Pattaya cats, and that there is no need to be concerned by their numbers.

Edited September 5, 201411 yr by Benmart

More and more ridiculous.

Ahahah fining 100 bath. ...

Hey did you forget its Pattaya? Clean up the beaches and streets. Don't forget this what initially brings Foreigners in to Thailand. Make it safe. Pattaya should not be for families. It was designed for US Serviceman on R&R. Pattaya serves a purpose in the world.