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MANY familiar restaurants at one of Phuket's well-known beaches have vanished and are unlikely to return soon because of a property dispute. The row has replaced what was a popular strip of diners at Nai Yang beach with a handful of venues and vacant concrete foundations.
A court dispute between angry restaurateurs and the local Sakoo orbortor council means it could be many months and possibly years before Nai Yang gets its prime eating strip back.
The beach is the closest to Phuket International Airport and a popular place for expats bringing newly-arrived visitors to taste the pleasure of on-the-beach dining just five minutes after landing.
A vendor at the beachfront said today: ''Tourists come and say 'Where has my favorite restaurant gone?'' She said some regulars loved their old restaurants so much they had organised to telephone the former proprietors to bring food for them to eat on the beach.
There were 20 outlets in a strip along the beach side of the road along Nai Yang foreshore, which bends past some large and beautiful trees. The orbortor ruled they were all erected without building permits and in March gave occupants 30 days to vacate.
On May 26, that was reduced to a week. A large sign posted on the beachfront road says the orbortor subsequently opted to replace the 20 venues with concrete establishments, but in making the venues all five metres wide, and eight metres long, this left room for only 14 businesses.
The orbortor chose the 14 businesses that would be restored. The vendors who were excluded from the project have now sued the orbortor.
Because the sites have become part of a court action, work has ceased and is not likely to resume until the court makes a decision. That could take years.
Under the council's plan, the fortunate 14 will have to pay 140,000 baht each for the concrete venues and then monthly rent. Further along the beach road, a stand of restaurants on the side opposite to the beach is functioning normally, as are beachside restaurants that do not have formal structures and serve guests outdoors.
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What is important to point out is that none of the restaurants and businesses on the beach side have any legal right to be there.
Enterprising Thais have gradually encroached onto the beach over the years, and previous demolition of these structures by the OrBorTor has not been opposed because they knew that they were simply squatting on the land. They pay no rent nor taxes. I know one of the bar owners who recently bought a new Fortuna on the profits of her ramshackle, eyesore beach bar.
The businesses on the other side of the road are built on land with title documents - these are the only legal premises.
I do not personally agree with any permanent or 'squatter' structures being built on the beach side. By all means let those legal restaurants on the other side of the beach road place their tables and chairs beach-side during the day - but please, no permanent structures.
Posted by Simon Luttrell on June 17, 2010 07:09