BMA to ask Prayut to intervene in Khaosan spat over stalls

Deputy Bangkok Governor Sakoltee Phattiyakul said yesterday that he plans to discuss the matter with vendors and various other relevant authorities tomorrow or on Friday.
“We may also submit our conclusion to the prime minister because Khaosan is a famous attraction,” he said.
The ban took effect on August 1. 
Located in the capital’s Phra Nakhon district, Khaosan Road’s longstanding street-fair atmosphere is hugely popular among Thais and tourists.
The BMA, however, has resolved to strictly regulate street stalls there to ensure orderliness but vendors are still calling for the ban to be lifted. 
“We are working on three models to present to the BMA. One of the models is to let stalls run in the morning hours too and in return, we will make sure street stalls are tidier,” said Chonnapha Teansawang, a long-time vendor on Khaosan Road.
BMA’s recent restriction allows stalls to operate on the road next to footpath only between 6pm and midnight. 
Chonnapha said vendors operating stalls in the morning usually had tour groups as customers. 
“We are adversely affected. When the news came out, tour-group organisers cancelled their plan to come to Khaosan Road,” she |said. 
Chonnapha has sold cell phones and bags for more than two decades. 
“I think Khaosan stalls are attractive because of the diverse rang of products in the area,” she said. 
Chonnapha said her group was now holding discussions with vendors in a bid to get a solid proposal to be submitted to the BMA for consideration. It is estimated that Khaosan Road has about 300 vendors. 
According to the deputy governor, “As of now, about 230 vendors have come forward to register with the BMA.” 
xHe said he recognised that Khaosan vendors had plied their trade for a long time and contributed to Khaosan’s reputation as an interesting tourist place. “But what they do is illegal,” he said.