Plans to lay large decorative boulders along Jomtien Beach as a natural attempt to mitigate erosion are now in limbo amid protests from vendors who say they will do more harm than good.
Pattaya mayoral advisor Pattana Boonsawat met with local residents, business owners and street sellers March 2 to review plans for the barrier, digging for which has already begun along a 500-meter stretch of the beachfront footpath beginning at Soi 19.
Pattana said the project, part of the overall Jomtien Beach facelift, will benefit tourism, but also will affect local vendors and look odd when only rocks are left if sand is washed away.
Officials said the 600-million-baht Jomtien Beach facelift is being carried out in four phases and is still open to adjustment.
Local vendors and residents proposed that the boulders instead to be used to create a rock barrier next to where boats pick up customers, including the area in front of Surf Kitchen and the other in front of Chaiyapruek Road.
Other proposals included leveling the footpath from Chaiyapruek to Najomtien so that the road itself could be a lot wider, and add some more parking areas.
Officials said the 600-million-baht facelift is being carried out in four phases and is still open to adjustment.
For now, plans for placing boulders anywhere appears to have been put on hold until everyone can come to agreement.
