The residents, led by former village headman Somyod Pensook and representatives Akom Kaewcham and Surathin Lainudom arrived at Provincial Hall at 9:40am and handed over their letter to Vice Governor Chokdee Amronwat.
Also present were Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiyawong; Phuket Land Chief Watcharin Jettanawanitch and Phuket City Office Chief Saranyu Sayma.
The letter stated that Loch Palm had closed the road that accessed Wichitsongkram Rd, a route that had been used for more than one hundred years.
Mr Somyod said, “Residents are upset because the golf club closed the road and they cannot access it any more. They have been forced to use an alternative route around the golf course which is narrow and dangerous.
“People drive very fast on the alternative road, and the wall around the golf course is too high and leaves drivers with poor vision for on coming traffic. There are now accidents happening often on the new route.
“The old road was used even before the golf course was built,” he said.
“When the golf course opened residents were refused access to the road but still used it. However, on January 27 a company came and blocked the road and said it could only be at restricted times,” he added.
Mr Somyod went on to say that the road has now been blocked with a big sign saying Private Property Access Only Vehicles with Stickers or Permission.
“We sent a letter to the district chief and were told that we would have to wait for the company who owns the golf course to have a meeting and then the matter would be discussed.
“We are tired of waiting. Its seem like they are ignoring us so we have come to the governor to resolve this,” he said.
“We want access o the road 24 hours without any restriction and without any blockade.
“We also want officials to investigate whether that road is public land, if not what happened to the public road that land officials surveyed and announced back in 1978?” said Mr Somyod.
V/G Chokdee said, “A short term solution to this issue is for Kathu District Office to issue residents with stickers for their vehicles so they can access the road until is sorted out.
“As for the time restrictions, the district chief will have a meeting with the Loch Palm owner. Residents want 24 hour access, but the company only want to give access from 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and for it to be closed at weekends,” he said.
“Residents will also need to send a letter pasking for protection from the court while officials investigate the matter,” he added.
Kathu District Chief Sayan said the road was considered public land, but the Director General of the Land Department withdrew that document from being public land. The management of Loch Palm are aware of this and have passed it over to the court to help sort it out.
“The case is being discussed by the court,” he said.
Official gave out stickers to the residents to put on their vehicles so they can access the road.