PHUKET: Ownership of a large section of Soi Bangla, the popular tourist walking street in Phuket's tourist hub of Patong, has been thrown into dispute by claims that it is public land - just like the holiday island's beaches.
Property in this central part of Patong would be among the most expensive on Phuket. Yet at least 28 businesses on land here may be removed if their titles are no longer legal.
The principle that saw commerce cleared from Phuket's beaches and illegal beach clubs and restaurants bulldozed flat along the foreshores last year has now reached the heart of Phuket's party town.
The Mayor of Patong, Chalermluk Kebsub, was today appointed to lead a three-person investigation to probe the legitimacy of the businesses that now occupy the contentious one rai of Soi Bangla land.
Before 1994, the land was definitely public but the local administration at the time, run by former mayor Pian Keesin, established norsorlor titles that at the time, satisfied the needs of local residents and voters.
These days, times have changed and the clearance along Phuket's beachfront led people with long memories to complain to the Governor of Phuket about the present occupiers of the public land in Soi Bangla.
With norsorlor titles, the rights of the occupier vanish if the person granted the title is no longer involved in the business.
Soi Bangla has changed more than a little since 1994, becoming first a thatch and bamboo destination for Phuket's pioneer tourism industry and these days including some of the most expensive property values on the island.
Seventeen ''owners'' have responded to the call for those with claims on the land to come forward. A long period of haggling and claim and counter-claim is anticipated.
The meeting today at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City will be awaiting a response from the mayor and her investigators.
Property in this central part of Patong would be among the most expensive on Phuket. Yet at least 28 businesses on land here may be removed if their titles are no longer legal.
The principle that saw commerce cleared from Phuket's beaches and illegal beach clubs and restaurants bulldozed flat along the foreshores last year has now reached the heart of Phuket's party town.
The Mayor of Patong, Chalermluk Kebsub, was today appointed to lead a three-person investigation to probe the legitimacy of the businesses that now occupy the contentious one rai of Soi Bangla land.
Before 1994, the land was definitely public but the local administration at the time, run by former mayor Pian Keesin, established norsorlor titles that at the time, satisfied the needs of local residents and voters.
These days, times have changed and the clearance along Phuket's beachfront led people with long memories to complain to the Governor of Phuket about the present occupiers of the public land in Soi Bangla.
With norsorlor titles, the rights of the occupier vanish if the person granted the title is no longer involved in the business.
Soi Bangla has changed more than a little since 1994, becoming first a thatch and bamboo destination for Phuket's pioneer tourism industry and these days including some of the most expensive property values on the island.
Seventeen ''owners'' have responded to the call for those with claims on the land to come forward. A long period of haggling and claim and counter-claim is anticipated.
The meeting today at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City will be awaiting a response from the mayor and her investigators.
You may remember when the beach cleanup issues were being brought up I time and again pointed out that the south west side of bangla is all on public land titles.
Only took a year...
Posted by LivinLOS on August 27, 2015 00:35