Feelings have been running high on the topic, with people arguing that the large store will affect local traders’ livelihoods and cause traffic problems.
A protest march on August 16 drew some 700 protestors.
Yesterday’s meeting was chaired by Vice-Governor Somkiat Sangkaosutthirak who pointed out that there were many steps to be gone through before the store could be built: complying with building and construction law, public hearings, environmental impact assessment and requirements to address grievances of local people affected should the project receive the go-ahead.
An official from the Department of Public Works said, “The site for the proposed project is in an ‘Orange’ zone, so it is legal to do it. The site is ‘Type 2’ so the size is limited to 1,000 square meters.” Tesco, it is understood, is looking at 15,000 square metres.
Crucial to the success of the project are the EIA and public hearing which should be organised by a consulting company acting for Tesco-Lotus. A proposed public hearing set for August 16 was cancelled the day before, and no new date has been set.
V/Gov Somkiat suggested that the mayor should “take charge” of the public hearing to make sure that local people are thoroughly briefed on when it will happen, how they can ask questions and how to answer questionnaires and submit their views.
In addition, he urged the municipality to ask Tesco-Lotus what steps they planned to take to compensate local people who will be affected if the project gets the go-ahead.
One such suggestions was that Tesco-Lotus should block off an area in the hypermarket for local traders to sell their wares. But Mrs Somjai wondered how long it would be kept open, and how many traders could be accommodated.
She also emphasized the priority should be given to the unique Phuket culture and small local retailers rather than large projects.
“If Tesco-Lotus is built on that road, small retailers and a local lifestyle that has been handed down for many generations will end,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Thavorn Jirawattanasophon told The Phuket News that legal action to try to stop the project would be unlikely to succeed. “If the local retailers take Tesco-Lotus to court, they will probably lose. We have seen this happen in many provinces already.
“The proposed project is not illegal, so the best way to tackle it is to ensure that local people make their voice heard loudly in any public hearing or in any questionnaire that is distributed.”