A provincial visit from the PM and cabinet coincided with a requirement that vendors with a business on the footpaths of the Cha-Am beach road remove their stalls for two days. We asked some of those affected; both the vendors and pedestrians, what they thought about this move.
From the vendors: “We know that every Wednesday our stalls need to be cleared for the weekly clean-up, but this time we needed to find somewhere else to store our refrigerators, table and chairs and everything else. This has made a big problem for us all.”
From the walkers: “I’d forgotten that the sidewalk could be used to walk alongside the beach road; it’s really very strange!” “I miss the colours and the usual sights and smells; but we’re off the road at last.” “So nice not having to dodge traffic because I can’t use the footpath. “It’s hard not to be cynical about this exercise; I’ll be back walking on the road by the weekend!”