Investigations are now underway to determine whether the new 24-hour Munag Mai Supercheap branch near the near the Highway Police Station on Thepkrasatree Road was built according to correct building standards after local home owner Rittiwong Pongchumpiset submitted complaints to municipal authorities and the Damrongthum Centre.
Mr Rittiwong initially submitted a complaint at the Thepkrasattri OrBorTor offices on September 24 while construction of the new store was underway, claiming dust and debris from the construction work was severely disrupting the livelihoods of nearby residents.
According to Mr Rittiwong, the OrBorTor took no action so he then filed another complaint on October 24, this time with the Damrongthum Office, by which time construction of the store had already been completed.
Investigations eventually began in earnest just over a five weeks later, on the morning of December 2, when a group of officials from various department led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak visited the site to determine whether the store had been built in accordance with the building's construction permit.
Accompanying V/Gov Somkiet were officials from the Damrongtham Office, Thalang District Office, Phuket Environmental Office, Phuket Highway office, Phuket Public Works & Country Planning, the Public Health Office and Thepkrasattri OrBorTor.
With the store already complete, Mr Rittiwong had a new list of complaints for the officials.
“The space between the store and the houses behind is too narrow. The area was not properly marked off and now there is a horrible smell from the restroom and staff kitchen,” he said.
Additionally, the officials revealed that minimarts in the Muang Mai area should be no more than 300 square metres. However, this store covers more than 1,000 square metres.
The course of action depends on whether the Supercheap store is categorized as a 'minimart' or as a 'super store', said V/Gov Somkiet, who gave investigating officers 15 days to find out which category the store was built under.
“If it is a minimart, there must be no windows or extractor fans facing the neighbouring residential properties,” he explained.
“However, if it is categorized as a super store, then the situation is different and part of the store may have to be demolished,” he said.
V/Gov Somkiet said he couldn't recall the exact specifications according to the Building Control Act but said he expected Supercheap to make any appropriate actions once investigations were complete, otherwise legal action would follow.
Store manager Natthawut Siemmai said he would report the findings to Supercheap's head office and promised that the retail group would follow any orders issued by the authorities.