Pak Klong Talad vendors petition the prime minister for more time



BANGKOK: -- As the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration launched its “big cleaning” campaign to reclaim the famous flower market at Pak Klong Talad from vendors, a group of representatives of about 1,000 vendors lodged a petition with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to put off the campaign.

Dr Wallop Suwandee, advisory chairman of Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, today (Monday) presided over a ceremony for the launch of the “big cleaning” campaign aimed to impose a new order at the market and to improve its landscape. City officials, police and military personnel took part in the campaign.

Dr Wallop said that an agreement had been reached between the city hall and the vendors that, as of April 1, no vendors would be allowed at Pak Klong Talad market during the day time but they would be allowed to continue to do their business at night from 8.30 pm to 4.30 am of the next day until June 30 after which the market will be completely cleared of vendors.

He claimed that the city administration had set aside space at Yodpimarn, Thai, Songserm Karnkaset and Pak Klong Talad markets to accommodate the evicted vendors.

On top of that, he said that the Soi Suan Phak 4 market which is a three-storey building on a 28-rai plot of land with spacious parking space can accommodate the vendors without rental fees for up to five years.

In their petition submitted to the prime minister through the people’s service centre, the vendors said that the eviction had affected their businesses badly even though the city administration has set aside alternative markets for them.

They asked for more time before they are being removed out of Pak Klong Talad where they have been doing business for several decades.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158150


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-05

Who wants to cart stock up 3 levels with presumably no lift. 1 big ground floor market would be better.