In some cases, they say, walls have been cracked by the vibration from passing heavy vehicles.
The blockade by residents of Bang Tong in Kathu, close to the Tung Thong Police Station, began on Wednesday (May 14). As a result, Kathu Municipality has ordered a temporary halt to work on the site while an agreement is worked out between the locals and the developer.
Residents complain that they have lived with dust and mud for months, and fives houses have cracks in the walls.
“I can’t stand it any more,” said one, on condition of anonymity. “The dust constantly comes into my house and all over the road. Originally the construction management sent people to hose down the road but they haven’t done that for two or three months.”
A woman resident, who also declined to give her name, said, “My house is all cracked. I’m scared [it’s gong to fall down].”
A manager of the construction team speaking, like almost everyone else, on condition he was not named, told The Phuket News, “Yes, we already know about this. We are waiting for the local people to tell us what they want and show us evidence of damage. After we have discussed it we can all stick to the same agreed solution.”
On Friday (May 16) Kathu District Officer Sayan Chanajaiwong (who did agree to be named) told The Phuket News, “Kathu Municipality has ordered construction to stop until an arrangement satisfactory to all is agreed.”
This may take some time; the locals have said they don’t want any trucks at all using the road.
This is the third road blockade in Phuket in a month by people fed up of not getting solutions to their problems any other way.