Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak and city planning officials held a meeting at Provincial Hall 1.30pm Tuesday (Dec 2) to investigate complaints that construction work on one of the buildings – the precise location of which was not disclsoed – had caused extensive damage to surrounding structures.
The damage is a result of pile driving an additional support pole meant to strengthen the structure so a fourth floor can be added.
Phuket City Municipality had previously granted permission for construction of the additional floor, however, V/Gov Somkiet ordered a halt on further construction and instructed the Phuket Environment Office to carry out a new Environmental Impact Assessment on the property in question.
Voicing his concern that the damage could result in the loss of part of Old Phuket Town's historical architecture, V/Gov Somkiat said the municipality must limit such building extensions in the future.