After waiting a month for Sattahip authorities to replace three stolen drain covers on Soi Long Poi, a village chief took it upon himself to close down the street after six more covers were taken.
Natchai Sangsri, headman for Moo 6, put tree branches across both entrances to the soi Jan. 5 after determining he could no longer allow local residents to face the dangers of holes in the roadway. He said he waited a month for Khet Udomsak Sub-district officials to do something, but they did nothing. In the interim, one motorbike driver has been injured after driving into a hole.
Village chief Natchai Sangsri has put large tree branches across both entrances to Soi Long Poi where thieves have been stealing the drain covers, making it hazardous to travel there.
The problem began Dec. 9 when residents discovered thieves in pickup trucks had begun pulling the iron grates off the roadway to sell for scrap. Natchai blocked the soi and put up warning signs, but a Tawhan Restaurant employee driving who ignored the warning and was driving with his lights off fell into an open drain, sustaining a head injury.
With nine drain covers now missing, the village chief said he feared more injuries and made larger blockades of the soi. He hopes the disruption to traffic finally gets the attention of sub-district officials.
