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Phuket Residents Reject Hollywood Museum That Would Destroy Foreshore Glade
Saturday, November 21, 2015
PHUKET: A meeting of more than 100 residents last night overwhelmingly rejected a plan for a ''Hollywood movie museum'' on the shorefront at Phuket's Nai Harn beach.
The three-hour meeting mostly heard criticism of the 40-million baht project, which would require the axeing of a precious iconic glade of trees on the foreshore.
''The overwhelming message from Thai and expat residents and from representatives of resorts around the beach was that nobody wants this museum,'' Moo 1 village chief, Boonsom Ponlob, told Phuketwan today.
News of the imminent destruction of the glade was reported in Phuketwan on November 10. A backlash quickly spread among locals, who say they were unaware of the destruction that the museum, to be built across two rai, would cause.
Thirty-two trees had been marked for lopping, a clearance that would destroy the tranquility of the shorefront.
The Mayor of Rawai, Aroon Soroj, told last night's meeting at Rawai municipal offices that with the budget approved by the Tourism Ministry, he was in no position to prevent it going ahead.
However, others blame Mayor Aroon for not ensuring residents all knew what was proposed.
With exquisite timing, the Minister for Tourism, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, is scheduled to chair an Andaman provinces ''cluster'' meeting at the Phuket Provincial Hall today.
One expat told last night's meeting that he had been living on Phuket for 25 years. He enjoyed the way locals and foreigners were able to maintain the natural environment. Nature was Nai Harn's main appeal, he said.
''It's highly unlikely that people with world-class museums in their own countries will come to Nai Harn to visit a Hollywood movie museum,'' he added. ''Nature is what draws them here.''
Phuketwan first reported that the film museum had been approved back in April, with a photograph of Mayor Aroon and Phuket Tourism Director Santi Pawai meeting in the glade.
That report appeared to be ignored by readers. If as reported a contract has been signed, an alternative site for the museum may still have to be found.
Plans show the construction would include a restaurant and souvenir shop, tearooms and a toilet.
Critics have pointed out that there is no provision for maintenance and that salt would quickly damage the building and cover its windows.
The underutilised Gateway site near the Tachatchai checkpoint has been suggested as a more suitable site.
A few years ago, local authorities rejected a plan for a small lifesaving education centre for the benefit of all of Phuket to be built in a disused sala on the foreshore.
The sala continues to fall apart.
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Comments
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Hats off to everyone for their efforts on such an important issue. Normally when you ask Thai neighbors to accompany you,to talk to the people at the local muni offices about this or that, most will say "Why?", that's it's a waste of time and energy. Seeing all our neighbors last night enjoying a victory like this is empowering to say the least. My wife says that in her village, meetings are held monthly, in a very open forum. Can't it be so here? Is there too much money involved?
Posted by
peter rawai
on
November 21, 2015 10:34
Editor Comment:
The meeting of Phuket people to announce that there is no evidence that ''68,000 people a day'' will use the north-south tram should be a good one. A 40 million baht mistake pales beside a 23.5 billion baht mistake.
I really hope don't have to miss your timely update and be obliged to read garbage website.. The information or is free or isn't information and you provide it at any cost. Also must pursuing the interests of the whole community, and not those of a part=nobody is interested in articles with the sole purpose of publicizing something.. Thanks
Posted by
dave
on
November 21, 2015 12:07
Aw come on Ed...don't shift gears by comparing a corny museum on the beach with a regional transportation project. The museum would benefit nobody outside of the vultures that were sharing the 40 million baht treasure chest. The north south tram; however, is not a project that should be expected to yield instant results, but one which could provide more benefits with time. While I also place no value on the estimated ridership numbers, the fact remains that a project like this would offer an alternative to the existing and inefficient transportation scenario of death buses and reckless minivans, and in time could spur additional development along the corridor. The biggest issue I would see is having the project overseen by someone that wont pilfer the budget, and can ensure that things stay on track (no pun intended).
Posted by
Richard Vickers
on
November 21, 2015 12:31
Editor Comment:
The tram project carries tourists in the wrong direction at a slow speed and residents will vote with their bums by keeping them on their motorcycles, Richard. A network of minivans capable of crossing the island from east to west as well as north to south is what Phuket needs. Once the tram tracks are in, traffic will be even slower. Best to widen Thepkasattri Road with two more lanes, use minivans only, ban large buses, large trucks and trams. Problem solved. You clearly have no idea about the topic, Richard.
We were at the tin mining museum for about a hour today and the only visitors there, second time there and it was the same last time
Plenty of vacant ground there to build on and a added attraction might attract more visitors
Posted by
peter allen
on
November 21, 2015 12:50
Editor Comment:
With the exception of the Big Buddha, not a lot of manmade tourist attractions have succeeded on Phuket - a good reason to be careful about future bright ideas.
which would require the axeing of a precious iconic glade of trees on the foreshore.
Thirty-two trees had been marked for lopping, a clearance that would destroy the tranquility of the shorefront.
Confusing , first you say they are axeing the trees, then you say they are lopping them.
Lopping is not an issue, axeing is an issue, so what is it that they plan to do?
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 12:59
Editor Comment:
A lopped tree is an axed tree, bruce. Unless you are a beaver.
We are planning to chop, lop or axe all nitpickers, in alphabetical order, bruce, from December 31.
Why on earth can't you just answer a query without trying to make mockery of a readers interest? You really are one strange critter ed.FYI lopping a tree is simply pruning it, not chopping it down.
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 13:18
Editor Comment:
Only a ''strange critter'' would argue about such an obscure semantic issue when most of us have better things to do. A lopped tree is an axed or chopped one, bruce. A pruned tree is quite different. The commenting rule is simple: add value, or don't bother. Nits? Go pick your own, critter.
Where you come from, a lopped branch may be a pruned one. In other places, it will be a chopped or axed one. The distinction on PW is not made in that way: a lopped tree is one that has been axed or chopped. If I was to lop a branch, I would remove it entirely. If I was to prune a branch, I would cut off the twigs.
As editor is talking about a North-South tram line ( till chalong circle), I presume editor knows how wel the tram lines in Melbourne are doing, the tram line from Melbourne city to Melbourne Port is fantastic. It makes money.
Same as tram lines in The Netherland and German cities, used by people who leave their car home, and used by people who not have a car.
And if a tram line is not a option, than make a 'above ground level' MRT to airport, like in Singapore. So much is possible.
A tram line is not slower than car traffic, if the Phuket people respect speed limits and traffic lights go green when a tram approach, which is normal in other countries.
Posted by
Kurt
on
November 21, 2015 13:35
Editor Comment:
Tram lines function very well in cities, and I have often used and appreciated the trams in Melbourne, which is probably the ''tram capital of the Southern hemisphere.'' To introduce a straight A-B tram route on an island where people have already adopted the motorcycle as their preferred means of transport from A-Z is another issue entirely. A tram stopping at 23 stops is, by my clock, a very slow means of travel compared to a motorcycle or a car. Especially as it is going in the wrong direction, if you happen to want to end up in Patong, Kamala, Kata or Karon, as most tourists do. There is no evidence that people anywhere will abandon a proven, speedy method of transport for a slower, more expensive one - even if it is safer and weatherproof. The figure of 68,000 tram riders a day now being bandied about is laughable. It will only be achieved if buses and cars are banned and everyone is forced to switch to the tram when they arrive on Phuket.
Awesome ! Nice one people ! Thanks for letting us know PW ! What we gonna do without you ?!?
Posted by
James
on
November 21, 2015 14:17
Minivans? Are you insane? (moderated)
Posted by
jon
on
November 21, 2015 14:44
Editor Comment:
We certainly won't miss insulting readers who seldom have anything publishable to say, jon or jonty or whatever you choose to call yourself.
Minivans are the most efficient and effective means of public transport here, ideal for Phuket's needs, safer on hills than large buses and less of an impediment to smooth flowing traffic. And yes, of course the drivers have to be educated to drive safely.
The editor is right in my opinion, mini vans could run more frequently to more destinations including between the beaches than full size buses and trams which only restrict the traffic flow, of course the transport mafia would not like the competition and would try to stop the service being started or run
With the narrow roads here they are ideal
And would stop the constant whinging about the cost of transport by poor faranga
Posted by
peter allen
on
November 21, 2015 16:04
(moderated)
PLAY OF THE DAY
The Editor is going to have some fun in the last few weeks of Phuketwan, rewriting all comments from haters, loathers, loafers and doomsayers into words of praise. So get to it - waste your time one more time!
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 16:44
Editor Comment:
Oops, you're right, bruce. I made a mistake. For an instant, I took you seriously.
What bruce actually meant to say was:
How can you possibly close on december 31 when there is so much work still to do, herding and house-training the ''strange critters'' among your readers who have no idea what's really important in life? Personally, I am so grateful that you highlighted my tendency to focus on the trivial. I will try harder in future. brucey.
"brucey"? really Alan..rather juvenile ..but the main thing is that you get to read the comment first.What you do after that is of course up to you.Thanks for confirming as i said that you are an uninformed, boorish, fool , just add juvenile to the list.
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 19:13
Editor Comment:
You told us all about lop and axe, bruce. And now it's all about bruce and brucey. And I'm the juvenile one?
Yet more mad minivans on the island is one of your barmier ideas, ed. The island needs a good coastal light railway, not trams going in the wrong direction or more lunatic van drivers.
Posted by
jimbo34
on
November 21, 2015 19:13
Editor Comment:
A good coastal light railway . . . why not a tunnel from the airport to Jungceylon, jimbo?
(moderated)
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 20:32
Editor Comment:
If I wanted to let someone hurl mindless insults at me, brucey, I'd choose someone with class.
ed you shouldn't retort to readers when you're drunk
Posted by
Elephants Gerald
on
November 21, 2015 20:32
Editor Comment:
Ah, ''Elephants'' Gerald. Now I get it.
You can call them "mindless insults" alan, i just call it telling the truth about you.You can live in denial all you like, and you obviously do, but that doesn't change the FACTS!!
Posted by
bruce orbell
on
November 21, 2015 21:56
Editor Comment:
The facts are, bruce, if I want to lop or axe a tree, it will be chopped down. If I want to prune or trim it, it will suffer a little pain but survive. Now you know. No need to thank me.
I have to admit Ed, I do not know anything about the north/south route, but to the contrary, I know a lot about transportation planning and transit systems. I was quick to support public transit, because it is efficient when properly planned (enter a big stumbling block here). It is also worth noting that street widening is the largest waste of resources, as well as a favored budget campground for locals to pilfer and redistribute among themselves and their cronies. A wider street will just result in a wider botched up traffic mess...I can vouch for this after growing up on California freeways. And odd you would suggest that we need more minivans, which are consistently driven by the biggest a-holes on Phuket streets. You might want to go back through your archives and count how many pictures of a-hole minivan accidents you have plastered on your paper, and rethink how many more we want on the roadways.
Posted by
Richard Vickers
on
November 22, 2015 00:05
Editor Comment:
Are you the person who believes widening the street will only create more kerbs? Any perceived problems with minivan drivers are not caused by the minivans. They're efficient people-carriers for an island with hills and mostly narrow roads. A tram down the middle of the main street means less space for widening as Phuket's vehicular traffic increases. The tram needs to be cheaper, faster and more efficient, or at least score well on two out of three. How well does it score? Most importantly, the tram runs north-south not east-west or airport-west coast, so as Phuket grows, there will also be more minivans required anyway. For a start, I would like to see the results of the ''user questionnaires'' associated with this project. There should have been thousands of them taken, especially at the airport. I would hate to think this is a case where a costly technological solution is seen as an all-encompassing instant answer. Surely that wouldn't happen?
yah!! thank you for coming together and talking about what is important for the community...this is how we exist as a village...great news!!!
Posted by
kim
on
November 22, 2015 06:13
Your position on the meaning of the word "lop" is incorrect.
Dictionary definition is:-
Cut off (a branch, limb, or twig) from the main body of a tree:
they lopped off more branches to save the tree.
Silly discussion, anyway.
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
November 22, 2015 07:22
Editor Comment:
Pedant
1.
a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2.
a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3.
a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
Language is constantly changing, Sir Burr, and dictionaries struggle to keep up. I am telling you, as I have already told bruceywusey, that when a tree is lopped by Phuketwan, it is exactly the same as if it is axed or chopped. It does not recover.
I hope this ends your confusion on the topic.
''Trim'' by the way, can mean to clip, pare or prune, or to decorate or adorn with ornaments. These trees are not being trimmed, although with the festive season here, celebratory embellishments might be appropriate.
Pedant?
You must be describing yourself and your attitude to the word "mafia".
Remember that tawdry discussion?
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
November 22, 2015 08:44
Editor Comment:
Tawdry
adjective, tawdrier, tawdriest.
1.
(of finery, trappings, etc.) gaudy; showy and cheap.
2.
low or mean; base:
tawdry motives.
noun
3.
cheap, gaudy apparel.
No, I do not remember that ''tawdry'' discussion. Too many ''silly discussions'' have been initiated by readers for me to remember them all, Sir Burr.
I am really only interested in spending time on Phuket's real issues. You know, those ''important, relevant'' things in the articles above the ''silly discussions.''
I do recall, however, that ''mafia'' is such a misused word that it can even be used to describe a knitting circle. That's what the dictionary says.
In PW's stylebook, the Mafia is ''a hierarchically structured secret organisation allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, trafficking in narcotics, and other criminal activities in the US, Italy, and elsewhere.''
Use of the word is therefore inappropriate when describing Phuket cartels or gangs, although when others use the word we of course report accurately their use of the word ''mafia.''
End of conversation.
2.
low or mean; base:
tawdry motives.
Yup...that describes many of your comments to readers. Just having the same "bit of fun" as you before the site closes.
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
November 22, 2015 11:24
Editor Comment:
Malicious
adjective
1.
full of, characterised by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful:
malicious gossip.
2.
Law. vicious, wanton, or mischievous in motivation or purpose.
PW is having a ''bit of fun'' with the repeat offenders in the above category, Sir Burr. If the label fits, we will include you out. I am certainly tired of your self-titled ''silly discussions.'' Real readers deserve better.
I should remind you, Sir Burr, that you recently described another reader as ''a paranoid nutter who craves conflict.'' Your comment was, of course, unpublishable.
You are now showing an intense desire to further waste my time. Add value or this will be my last response to your last comment.
Alan,
I cant imagine why you would want to get away from spending your Sundays answering such comments.
An interesting innovation in the final weeks to introduce PW's Sunday words of the day. Im not sure it will catch on as after reading some of the posts, I feel like committing a malicious act upon myself by lopping off a few old tawdry limbs. Im probably just being pedantic.
Posted by
MoW
on
November 22, 2015 15:24
Thank you everyone that assisted saving this wonderful place. Back in Phuket at Christmas and can't wait to visit Nai Harn in all its beauty. Hope this is the beginning of a new chapter in consultative planning. One up for the optimists among us all.
Posted by
DaveMc60
on
November 23, 2015 04:50
Just been I phuket town and next to the old Robinsons ocean that would make a more ideal place for the movie museum
Posted by
Michael
on
December 19, 2015 16:58
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Hats off to everyone for their efforts on such an important issue. Normally when you ask Thai neighbors to accompany you,to talk to the people at the local muni offices about this or that, most will say "Why?", that's it's a waste of time and energy. Seeing all our neighbors last night enjoying a victory like this is empowering to say the least. My wife says that in her village, meetings are held monthly, in a very open forum. Can't it be so here? Is there too much money involved?
Posted by peter rawai on November 21, 2015 10:34
Editor Comment:
The meeting of Phuket people to announce that there is no evidence that ''68,000 people a day'' will use the north-south tram should be a good one. A 40 million baht mistake pales beside a 23.5 billion baht mistake.