They said that if the project goes ahead it will put their regular local market, currently on the same site, out of business.
The group met Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut to give him a letter outlining their concerns about the plans for the new Songserm Sukkaparp Chaleam Prakiet Nawamindra Rachinee Hospital in Chalong.
Samran Jindapol, the mayor of Chalong sub-district, proposed moving the market to a site next to the Phuket Country Home village, also in Chalong, where vendors would have to rent space from the owner.
This idea has little support with stallholders, who said that 74 stalls regularly set up in the daily market, and more than 200 others from time to time. Around 500-600 customers visited the market on the day of the protest, they said.
“If the market is turned into a hospital, 3,000 to 5,000 local people around the area will be affected,” locals told Gov Maitree.
Two stallholders representing the group handed a letter to Gov Maitree and spoke with him. He then used a megaphone to greet the protesters, explaining, “There is no main hospital in the Chalong area. If there is a serious accident, people will be in trouble,.
“I think vendors do not have enough information about the plans.”
He said he understood how the locals felt, however, and promised to inspect the area. The group seemed to satisfied with the new governor’s speech and left without further ado.
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