Chadchart seeks suggestions about how to make areas in the Rattanakosin place more tolerable
PUBLISHED: 25 May 2024 at 20:05
Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt has vowed to take to Bangkok’s Old Town the best features of responsible creation, before his four-year word ends in 2026
Addressing a recent meeting of local residents and officials in Samphanthawong region, the government said he expected to see the neighbourhoods along the various canals in the Rattanakosin place develop into more tolerable areas, with a good compromise between tourism promotion and the happiness of local residents.
He was referring to populations along Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, Khlong Ong Ang, Khlong Bang Lamphu and Khlong Khu Muang Doem and Khlong Lot.
“Two years have passed since the May 22, 2022 vote. And before leaving office, my desire is to see changes in the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, Talat Noi, Yaowarat, Sampheng, Ratchawong, Khlong Thom and Phahurat places, ” said Mr Chadchart.
The government said he had asked business users and people in the Yaowarat place whether they want more transitory street closures on weekends to accommodate more trade actions on the road.
Based on what he learned from his recent visit to Japan for an international conference of capital rulers, he said, it is important for Bangkok areas to improve their talents and personalities to appeal to more visitors.
In Tokyo’s Ginza, for instance, on weekend afternoons when central Chuo Dori street is closed to traffic, it is transformed into a large pedestrian zone where tourists can enjoy dining at tables arranged for them right in the middle of the street, he said.
Locally, he suggested, the road in front of Wat Samphanthawong Saram Worawihan ( Wat Ko ), could be turned into a walking street, while Plaeng Nam Road could be converted into a new street food and dining zone for tourists.
The Song Wat area has won a global recognition mainly because of the way local business operators and residents united to revitalise what was once a run-down inner-city area, with support from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ), he said.
The Samphanthawong district office is currently gathering the opinions of business operators and residents to develop an action plan for the district’s development, expected by the end of this year.
Public forums will be held to give local people a say about what they expect from the district’s development, said an official.