Army takes down 48 structures on Phuket's Bangtao Beach

[stuarty 227]

It sats above in the Phuket News article that Lotus and Palm Beach Club were showing signs on dismantling.

Some of the larger, more solid structures such as the well-known Lotus Restaurant and the Palm Beach Club next to it are expected to take some time to dismantle, but work has started on those, too.

Is it so? Anyone near there can check?

[Pat Thai 2]

They in Thailand Need these Beach cleaning Machines... http://www.hbarber.com/Cleaners/Beach_Cleaning_Equipment.html

[sscsamui 604]

It's not happening on Koh Samui... It seams they are turning a blind eye on Koh Samui.... Taxi Mafia ,illegal structures and the list goes on... Samui is a mess But they still Don't do anything about it...

[backstairs 96]

The beach club near the national park at Layan is I understand built legally. Which is a shame because the regular swimmers, joggers, beach walkers and sitters loathe it. If ever a place was so out of place.

[EBlair48 402]

The Breach Club I call it

.... is on private land however it is wayyyyyy over the 6 meter height restriction for that zone 1, which is within 50 meters of high water mark. I'm betting the ocean got moved 100 meters west in the planning permit.

That's how Eva resort got built next to the water in ...Rawai, was it?

I agree very very noisy with the thudding bass especially, and has ruined the marine park ambiance completely.

[NomadJoe 2,229]

It's not happening on Koh Samui... It seams they are turning a blind eye on Koh Samui.... Taxi Mafia ,illegal structures and the list goes on... Samui is a mess But they still Don't do anything about it...

One island at a time.

[BestBitterPhuket 806]

In many places in Thailand, I saw the situation of a luxury resort opening at a secluded beach. Next thing that happens, is that small Thai entrepreneurs open simple restaurants, bars, massage places and travel agencies at the beach right in front of it. These places make up for a lot of the charm that Thailand has for tourists staying in such a type of resort. If they wouldn't be there, all the tourists can do is use the expensive hotel in house facilities.

Of course commercial activities at the beach should be regulated, their presence should be limited.

But those who want all beaches restored to their pristine 1960 condition, please also think about A) tourists, they have different needs than expats, and B Thai families trying to make a living.

Sure, all commercial activity on the beach is illegal to the letter of the law. But a rule which has widely and constantly been broken in full public view for 30+ years , without the transgressors being challenged in any way, loses much of its validity.

Nonsense! All they have to do is to move their "charming" and illegal businesses a few meters off the beach. Yes, many tourists like Thailand's anarchy, but do you think decades of anarchy is good for Thailand? It isn't, and thus the need for action. Edited July 21, 2014 by BestBitterPhuket

[stoli 828]

Walking St is what it is, can't see a need to clear that beach. They've got a Beach Club there anyway, for people who like nature.

The actual beach road area that's another story. A deck chair bonfire would be a good start. But structure wise nothing really to clear.

They should start looking at fancy hotels who rope off large sections of beach.

They should start looking at fancy hotels who rope off large sections of beach.

I walk Beach Road every day, and I don't know what you mean in the above statement. Never seen this happen, except maybe during the Fireworks Festival. Maybe you are talking about somewhere else, and not Pattaya?

[harrycallahan 1,591]

Walking St is what it is, can't see a need to clear that beach. They've got a Beach Club there anyway, for people who like nature.

The actual beach road area that's another story. A deck chair bonfire would be a good start. But structure wise nothing really to clear.

They should start looking at fancy hotels who rope off large sections of beach.

They should start looking at fancy hotels who rope off large sections of beach.

I walk Beach Road every day, and I don't know what you mean in the above statement. Never seen this happen, except maybe during the Fireworks Festival. Maybe you are talking about somewhere else, and not Pattaya?

Yes I was speaking more generally with that. The road separates hotels from beach at Patts beach. Over at Naklua beach you get it, but Samui and just about anywhere the opportunity presents.

[Oziex1 10,281]

It's not happening on Koh Samui... It seams they are turning a blind eye on Koh Samui.... Taxi Mafia ,illegal structures and the list goes on... Samui is a mess But they still Don't do anything about it...

When the Phuket cleanup commenced it was said that Phuket was the worst of the worst, corruption, beach encroachment etc. If they get it right in Phuket the rest should be a doddle.

Coming your way soon.

[RTH10260 35]

good news and pattaya is next on the hit list...:-)

I think they are going to have a much harder time there. Half of walking street is built not just over the beach, but over the sea as well! And these are proper structures, not beach huts.

I am trying to spread this message in every thread where this pops up:

The structures seaside of walking street have a history of decades. They are upgraded structures that replaced the housing of fishermen living unto the sea, at the time when the area of Walkingstreet was the original prior fishing village. Until the USA discovered it for R&R during the Vietnam war.