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Patong Mayor powerless over Phuket’s sand sun loungers

PHUKET: Patong Mayor Chalermluk Kebsup says she is powerless over the removal of sand sun loungers set up along the length of Patong Beach as they have been built within the legal 10 per cent zone set out by officials in charge of the Phuket beach zones.

politicstourismconstructionpatong
By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 22 December 2016, 10:53AM

Mayor Chalermluk says she is powerless to remove the loungers as they sit within the legal 10% beach zone. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The issue of the sand sun loungers came to light after photos were posted on Facebook with a message in Thai which translated to “#When canvas beds are forbidden”.
The photos show sun loungers about 60 centimetres high built on the beach using sand with a mattress on top.

In response to the Facebook post, Mayor Chalermluk said, “I don’t have any power to remove these sand sun loungers from the beach as they have been built with the legal 10% beach zone.

“I do feel that the loungers destroy the beautiful scenery, but they are not really a problem as beachgoers still have 90% of the beach to use if they don’t want to use the loungers,” she said.

Kurt | 24 December 2016 - 07:50:15

Sand beds wiped out at Phuket beaches by the Navy!.
In BangkokPost we red that Patong Mayor was not powerless, she said that the sand beds were necessary for the vendors!
Different talking.
The 'powerless story' of Patong Mayor, with her reference to 10% zoning was nonsense.
The fantasy 10% zone is for umbrellas and matrass only, not for beach chairs of any kind, according the Navy.

...

swerv | 24 December 2016 - 07:04:41

Kurt: The sand beds are built on a beach, so where do you think they got the sand from?
Jeez

Asterix | 22 December 2016 - 18:25:12

Tax audit, fine even jail for repetitive abuses and other reinforcements of the law about public lands and beaches would be the best deterrent to rogue and greedy people.

Rorii | 22 December 2016 - 18:20:08

Surprised Wolf, this is how you people can go to the beach, without loungers and umbrellas. Do as the Aussies go, or are we just stronger than others.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=cottesloe+beach&espv=2&biw=1593&bih=894&tbm=isch&imgil=hf6l3HXQWNMMIM%253A%253B4A7uudu1wV8VXM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.australia.com%25252Fen%25252Fplaces%25252Fwa%25252Fcottesloe-beach...

Jome | 22 December 2016 - 17:38:19

@ Kurt: the needed sand was coming in from Koh Samui.I saw 3 big trucks on the ferry and then heading towards Phuket...someone is investing big time....

Rorii | 22 December 2016 - 15:12:58

Kurt, you are correct "Was it not the new governor who said that the 10% zones are illegal, not based on any thai law?", in fact the governor said that many "laws" from local authorities, including police, lands dept., tourist authority etc, were, in his words "fantasy" laws, and were illegal, this is something I have said many times, only to be "condemned" ...

Surprised Wolf | 22 December 2016 - 13:26:11

Many tourists do not come anymore because of no sunloungers and umbrellas. How are you supposed to stay on the beach for more than 20 minutes without an umbrella. Anyone thought of skin cancer and older people. Most oldies can't lay down on the sand and need a lounger. If well regulated and concessions given in a fair way then it could all be beautiful...

Kurt | 22 December 2016 - 12:15:22

You are right, Asterix.
As long there are no concrete walls at the beaches to mark the illegal 10% zones ( according new governor), that long the 10% becomes 15%, 20%, etc, etc.
It are 'thai rubber-percentages'.

it is just that thai loose face mentality that they not say: ..Let us stop this twisting madness, and bring back the previous beach loungers. 
And regulate it in a concession...

Kurt | 22 December 2016 - 11:46:30

Was it not the new governor who said that the 10% zones are illegal, not based on any thai law?
The Patong Mayor sticks to 'legal'?
Seems the right government hand doesn't know what the left government hand is doing, or not doing.

Anyway, this whole 'sand lounger' thing is pathetic.
Who brought in the needed sand for it? Is that legal?  hahaha

Patong, the only beach in...

Asterix | 22 December 2016 - 11:32:28

According to the picture it is looking clear for all of us that sun loungers occupy more than 10% of the beach or perhaps Patong's Mayor is talking about per cent during low tide.