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Phuket's Surin Beach Returns to Nature, Except for a Nail or Two
Saturday, June 21, 2014
PHUKET: At least one person stood on a jagged nail today that once was part of an illegal sand buttress at Phuket's Surin beach.
A surf competition planned to celebrate the clearing of restaurants and beach clubs from the foreshore at the beach had to be cancelled because of the danger posed to swimmers and walkers by the nails.
Governor Maitree Intrusud visited Surin today to see for himself the transformation wrought by the order from the National Peace and Order Council to clear illegal restaurants and beach clubs from the foreshore.
Locals said the beach hadn't looked so beautiful since the 2004 tsunami.
More clearances are taking place at other beaches along Phuket's west coast.
Beach umbrellas and lounges are banned from Surin's sands. But similar moves have yet to be implemented at other beaches.
The return to nature is expected to bring a mixed reaction from beach vendors and from tourists, used to seeing most Phuket west coast beaches covered in umbrellas each high season.
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Comments
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Pla should be fined for that mess. I watched the bulldozer at low tide knowing that all the debris would be swept out at high tide to be a danger for the months to come.
Posted by
The Night Mare
on
June 22, 2014 00:07
I cannot believe that anyone would not enjoy seeing the beaches back to what they once were, pristine & unobstructed.
Of course the vendors aren't happy - their free use of public property days are over. A limited number could be licensed & controlled, contributing fairly to Thai society, giving a properly priced & structured service to those tourists that want such.
Posted by
Logic
on
June 22, 2014 01:15
Editor Comment:
So just a few privateers is ok, Logic? That was how it was once. But with the numbers of tourists at high season so immense, it has to be all or nothing. Compromise is how the Phuket beaches got into this mess.
If it's not one thing it's another, but there are few pain-free solutions to tough problems out there. I always take out the nails though, especially after you step on a few rusty ones..better to take the pain first ( taking time to pull out ALL the bloody nails) and laugh later.
Posted by
farang888
on
June 22, 2014 05:02
Now why don t Surin Beach authorities clean and clear the beach everyday ? and not only the ''Keep Phuket Clean'' volunteers. Now would they remove all sun beds from all the other beaches ? How long this will last - before someone gets a new consignment and start having umbrellas and chairs ? If the highest point near the beach cannot be over 1 storey or 4 meters high why do some buildings are still standing ?
Posted by
Nicole
on
June 22, 2014 11:38
All public lands and beaches must be free of commercial structures and local administrations must revoke lease agreement for those renting public lands from the OrBorTor.
Other-way within few months or years they will be back on the beaches at the expenses of all Phuketians and tourists.
Corruption is too much anchored in Thai mentality to give privileges to a few greedy investors.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
June 22, 2014 11:41
Logic, you refer to "their free use of public property". It was never "free" as vendors had to make payments to local officials in order to run their businesses.
Posted by
Tom
on
June 22, 2014 12:31
I don't believe tourist come in the beach whitout sunbed
Posted by
luigi
on
June 22, 2014 13:22
Are military seizures of governments easier to operate than having cleaned beaches of private encroachements ? I was at Surin beach yesterday night to enjoy the more natural look, obviously the tables and chairs of the restaurants are ready to make their come back. I have no doubt for the next high season, if not before.
Posted by
beach defender
on
June 22, 2014 13:58
Lets wait until high season before we all get too excited. Some business owners have already repopulated their empty plots with new chairs, tables and umbrellas. Walking southwards from the carpark, everything looks to have changed - that is, until you reach Catch Beach Club. From there onwards there's a wide choice of venues open to rent a chair, or have massage. Zazada even putting some back on the beach!
Posted by
agogohome
on
June 22, 2014 18:33
Editor Comment:
You appear to be walking north from the carpark.
I also won't get too exited. I was there last time the beach was cleared and everything was not too bad until Pla Seafood set up on the beach.
I warned the locals if one person paid to do it, everybody will want the same deal and that's exactly what happened. Pla herself had little to do with any of it. I know the owner and quite like him, I think he just went too far with the floating pier and take-over of the sand. People just got too greedy about land that was never theirs to exploit.
The guy with all the gold down the north end of the beach was just too damn ambitious for his own good. Sounds like he lost a lot of somebody else's cash as well.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
June 22, 2014 19:00
Not sure about the reports here but I was at Surin beach yesterday June 22 and most of the vendors on the east side of the beach road have set up their sunbeds and loungers on the west side of the road again already. Numerous restaurants have also set up tables chairs and umbrellas on the west side of the road also.
the only difference is there are no permanent structures. They are all still using public land to run their businesses.
Posted by
concerned
on
June 23, 2014 02:39
@Ed. 'Correct' I meant north! The same as many long-term expats, I'd love to see Surin Beach (and others)returned to as they used to be, but as long as businesses are allowed to continue operating along the walkway it's inevitable they'll continue to do business on both sides - eventually. Catch and Zazada Beach Clubs have already sown the seeds for others to follow.
Posted by
agogohome
on
June 23, 2014 08:20
Editor Comment:
Forget the seeds being sown, agogohome. If the authorities want to preserve the public space, they will plant native shrubs in the foreshore zone and cordon off the area until the shrubs are fully-grown. As open space, it will be used by everyone.
The alternative would be to hold a public auction for the various plots for the next 12 months, and to put that money into hiring guards to keep the beaches clear of loungers and umbrellas.
After the last time the Or Bor Tor cleared the beach, all local beach vendors were issued cards allowing them to sell on the beach.
There were two guys who used to patrol the beach removing people who weren't supposed to be on the beach. It didn't last long and things went downhill from there.
People were told to stay off the beach side of the road but what started with a few chairs just got completely out of control after Pla set the precedent.
As far as I know you still need the card to sell stuff on the beach. My friend had one.
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
June 23, 2014 15:45
Editor Comment:
Beach vendors and loungers are banned.
Lets not forget taking away those that went overkill and quite rightly have stepped over the line. when its 40 degrees and there is no where to get refreshement why go. You cannot kill tourism. It would be hugely detrimental to the island.
If you have been to Phi Phi in low season its 2ft high in plastic rubbish. Lets hope the government keep it clean.
Everything in fair and light moderation should be allowed. The new planned beach party ? who gets the drinks and food sales there.
Still amazed the Or Bor TOr hasnt been investigated yet
Posted by
sensiblity
on
June 24, 2014 10:06
Editor Comment:
Instead of spending all day at the beach, the likelihood is that people will go for a half-day and allow twice as many people to enjoy the same spot. Phuket is too popular now to have several hundred people hogging the sand all day.
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Pla should be fined for that mess. I watched the bulldozer at low tide knowing that all the debris would be swept out at high tide to be a danger for the months to come.
Posted by The Night Mare on June 22, 2014 00:07