Patong Apartment Block in Clear Breach of Phuket Building Laws

By Prasit Tarnsirisin PHUKET: An apartment block in the Phuket west coast hub of Patong will probably have to be demolished because of breaches of the law, officials said yesterday.

An examination of the block, in a lane off Prabaramee Road, opposite the Kathu Mosque, confirmed the claims of neighbors that there was no setback.

The block was built abutting the roadway and posed a hazard for vehicles, the inspection group with Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak confirmed.

Because there was no space for power poles, electricity connections had been attached to the building. Construction material had to be mixed in the roadway.

The development is believed to have gone ahead after the sale of part of a property title within a family.

Neighbors told officials from the Department of Public Works and Town Planning that concrete from the construction frequently toppled onto their homes, damaging roofs.

Although yesterday was a regularion working day, there was no sign of activity on the building.

Vice Governor Somkiet said he would await further advice before pursuing demolition.

Add your comment using the form below.

Want an avatar for your comments? Register with Gravatar.

No setback?

And no ones noticed the building on the Rd between nanai and baanzaan market then. Not only not 'set back' it takes up half of the actual rd.

Posted by LivinLOS on July 19, 2012 08:58

Do they have Building Inspectors here or not? Normally someone has to sign their name saying "yes this is perfect" so they can build.

Posted by Tbs on July 19, 2012 09:50

I live in Alberta, Canada and I heard Patong, Phuket is the best place in the world to live. Is this true?

Posted by Mike on July 19, 2012 10:01

@LivinLOS:
Try to pass this location about 5 pm, you will be amazed.

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on July 19, 2012 11:34

I hope they Set an Example by making them demo the building. Show people that doing the Wrong thing for a quick buck Won't be tolerated.

It would be good for the enforcement of corruption on Phuket they are speaking about.

Posted by John on July 19, 2012 11:37

@Mike: Yes, if you are a sex tourist, No if you are a normal person.

Posted by Buster on July 19, 2012 11:37

@LivingLOS: Thanks for raising that Nanai/Banzaan choke point. I have been on about this for as long as that ridiculous building has been there.

Tear that uncompleted, in-limbo nuisance-of-a-sucker down.

Posted by Dave on July 19, 2012 13:18

@ LivinLos Was'nt that building there before the road/road was widened? I assumed that it was similar to the situation as when they widened Vijit Rd and the guy that sold the plastic water and septic tanks would not accept the offer form the government to buy the land IFO his shop to widen the road. His property jutted out into the roadway for years. Very different emminent domain laws here apparently.

Posted by Joe on July 19, 2012 15:12

"Vice Governor Somkiet said he would await further advice before pursuing demolition"....Sure. I wonder if it'll involve 'negotiations' with the owner, to come up with an amicable solution. LOL

Posted by agogohome on July 19, 2012 15:48

@Fritz Pinguin. Try passing it on New Years Eve, and you'll be going nowhere :-)

Posted by agogohome on July 19, 2012 17:18

I am not a sex tourist and it is the best place in the world for me Buster. If you do not like it you can leave at any time. Bye

Posted by Neil Bryan on July 19, 2012 18:20

Setback, distance to boundary lines, % built vs. green, we all know that these rules exist, but are difficult to enforce. Building permits should be signed off by Chartered / Professional Engineers who will lose their license if it is found that rules were overlooked. Then regular inspection by the building department during construction to confirm the permit is what's being built to.

Posted by GiantFan on July 19, 2012 20:33

@Joe:
No, before the road was widened the was two last "buildings" of a row of shacks. In one of them was a Karaoke bar. While these were still there, the other houses were built far enough off the old dirt road. Next step was to build the new road (leaving the shacks as they were). After the road was finished, the shacks were taken down and the new houses were built on the road area. Whoever issued the building permit (or turned blind eyes to the construction), he is the one who deserves a kick in the ...

Posted by Fritz Pinguin on July 20, 2012 13:25

Livinlos and Dave the place you are talking about is all private land and the road is not a city road so the owners can build all the way across it if their property goes that far.

Posted by mike on July 21, 2012 12:30