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PHUKET: The destruction of restaurants and beach clubs that has swept clean one Phuket destination after another moved to Bang Tao today with some large timber constructions tumbling.
The ''go'' order for wrecking buildings to the south of the Laguna Phuket resorts was given by Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who oversees Surin, Bang Tao, Laypang and Layan beaches.
The Babylon Beach Club, a popular haunt for expats, was among those listed for destruction today.
It wasn't disclosed whether the deconstruction will continue today at Laypang beach, north of Laguna Phuket.
A number of other large restaurants also sit on Bang Tao beach, further south.
With Surin and Layan beaches cleared of restaurants and beach clubs in Mayor Ma-Ann's territory, the graders move on, as he promised.
About 100 Army, Navy and council staff - with the Army's Major General Somchai Ponatong looking on - were carrying out the demolitions.
So far, across Phuket, east coast restaurants at Ao Yon and west coast beach businesses at Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Yang, Nai Thon and Kamala have been cleared, stretching south to Nai Harn and Rawai.
The fate of one large concrete beach club at Surin remains to be determined along with substantial concrete restaurants and a beach club at Laypang (northern Bang Tao.)
A survey of Laypang and Bang Tao beach restaurants by Phuketwan reporters days ago found some still open with proprietors waiting to find out whether the Army was ''serious'' about enforcing closures.
The ''go'' order for wrecking buildings to the south of the Laguna Phuket resorts was given by Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who oversees Surin, Bang Tao, Laypang and Layan beaches.
The Babylon Beach Club, a popular haunt for expats, was among those listed for destruction today.
It wasn't disclosed whether the deconstruction will continue today at Laypang beach, north of Laguna Phuket.
A number of other large restaurants also sit on Bang Tao beach, further south.
With Surin and Layan beaches cleared of restaurants and beach clubs in Mayor Ma-Ann's territory, the graders move on, as he promised.
About 100 Army, Navy and council staff - with the Army's Major General Somchai Ponatong looking on - were carrying out the demolitions.
So far, across Phuket, east coast restaurants at Ao Yon and west coast beach businesses at Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Yang, Nai Thon and Kamala have been cleared, stretching south to Nai Harn and Rawai.
The fate of one large concrete beach club at Surin remains to be determined along with substantial concrete restaurants and a beach club at Laypang (northern Bang Tao.)
A survey of Laypang and Bang Tao beach restaurants by Phuketwan reporters days ago found some still open with proprietors waiting to find out whether the Army was ''serious'' about enforcing closures.
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So far, across Phuket,... and west coast beach businesses at ... Nai Yang, ... have been cleared.
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In the case of Nai Yang beach, that is being rather economical with the truth.
Several bamboo restaurants frequented by local Thais, not tourists, have been cleared from the beachfront, but ALL the illegal businesses (restaurants, concrete guesthouses, massage shops, minimarts etc) remain, perhaps 100 businesses.
I know I have mentioned this situation several times on PhuketWan, and you (Ed) tell me that there is an MoU between those businesses and the National Park that permits the building of those structures on HM King's land.
I may be naive, but I cannot understand how the LOCAL park rangers in that NATIONAL PARK have the authority to ignore NATIONAL PARK regulations that apply to ALL national parks in Thailand.
How is it possible that a 5-star hotel and condos have been built within the NP boundaries, less than 10 metres from the access road barrier?
How can local park rangers decide that they will allow construction in a NP?
Forgive me if I'm wrong here, but my understanding is that one cannot build in a NP and one cannot build on HM King's beaches?
How can this MoU carry any legal standing? A NP is a NP, not a potential building site for some local park ranger to 'hawk'.
It would be very interesting to your readers if you could ask the Sirinat NP boss about the legality of this MoU viz-a-viz NP regulations.
Posted by Simon Luttrell on July 18, 2014 13:47
Editor Comment:
The illegal restaurants have been cleared at Nai Yang. We agree that other buildings should go too, but that's not our decision. I suggest you contact the Army directly, Simon.