Newly elected Council President Mr Weerawit has vowed to tackle the town’s long standing garbage problem and push forward key infrastructure projects following his victory with 10 out of 18 council votes.
Mr Weerawit joined the Patong Council by being one of six members elected to represent Voting District 3 in Patong in the local elections in May. Voting District 3 is not the largest of the three voting districts in Patong, but does include all the major population and business areas.
Voting District 3 comprises all along the Patong beachfront, and includes Bangla Rd and extends past Jungceylon and all the way south to Laem Kor Sai on the headland south of Patong
There were 18 candidates running for office to represent Voting District 3. Of the 4,340 eligible voters in the voting district, 2,951 cast votes, with 2,761 votes valid.
The top three candidates for Patong District 3 elected to join the council were Thamanoon Sombat (1,471 votes), Piyo Kitdamnooen (1,309 votes) and Pornthip Kerdsap (1,221 votes) ‒ all from Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri’s ‘Creative Party’.
Mr Weerawit, ranked No 12 on the ballot, secured 1,120 votes ‒ just 24 votes more than Metthasit Kanchana of the Fah Mai Party (‘New Sky Party’), who secured 1,096 votes.
So now, after decades as the leading representative of Patong’s nightlife industry, Mr Weerawit finds himself as one of the officials he used to continually discuss, and argue, with over key issues facing the island’s main tourism town.
“I wear two hats,” Weerawit said, reflecting on his dual roles. “By day, I serve the municipality; by night, I walk to check on Bangla myself to support and oversee the safety for both locals and visitors. I give this job everything I’ve got ‒ round the clock.”
Although Mr Weerawit is also a member of the Patong Creative Party, which won the local Patong elections in May, that does not mean Mayor Lalita’s party gets everything their own way.
Patong Creative members currently hold a majority on the council, but some seats were won by opposition members, leading to occasional difficulties in budget approval, Mr Weerawit explained.
“Still, with our majority, we can push forward projects like the sports field and roads,” he said.
Mr Weerawit affirmed his commitment to hands-on leadership, noting, “Most previous council presidents didn’t come to the municipality every day ‒ but I do. I want to listen to the people directly and make changes that are visible and worthwhile for the taxes they pay.
“The first issue I will take on is garbage. We must manage it seriously ‒ not just talk about it,” he said.
Patong currently generates up to 200 tonnes of waste per day in the high season, a sharp rise from just 100 tonnes previously, he noted.
“Yet with only around 20,000 officially registered residents in Patong, Mr Weerawit estimates the real population, including Thai and foreign residents, who live in Patong is closer to 100,000,” he added.
“The hidden population and lack of knowledge about waste separation have caused garbage to overflow,” he noted.
“I check Bangla Rd myself at night. You’ll see it’s now very clean,” he said, adding that plans are underway to install more lighting, underground cables and CCTV cameras for safety and aesthetics.
He added that while provincial policy calls for local incinerators, Patong lacks the space.
A private company has recently proposed building an incinerator in the hills using new technology that minimises pollution ‒ an idea he supports, provided it meets environmental standards.
TRAFFIC
Mr Weerawit also acknowledged ongoing transportation and traffic congestion issues.
Regarding traffic jams in the town, Mr Weerawit pointed out that much of the traffic was tourists coming and going while visiting areas outside Patong and returning.
He also targetted taxis parking illegally throughout the town.
“I have told the police to clear taxi drivers parking in areas where they are not allowed.
On smaller streets, which are often only six metres wide, having a taxi park at the side of the street leaves only about four metres ‒ that’s wide enough for only one car at a time,” Mr Weerawit said.
“Also, many taxi drivers park in areas marked yellow and white ‒ which is not allowed. I have told the Chief of Patong Police to take action about this ‒ but still no action has been taken,” he added.
Regarding improving public transport between Patong and other areas on the island, he emphasised such plans required coordination with provincial authorities.
PROJECTS
“The next project to follow is a promenade renovation project [along the Patong beachfront] now in Phase 2, which is expected to be finished by next year, and the town is moving forward with burying electrical lines underground,” Mr Weerawit said.
“The budget for burying electrical lines underground is about B180 million. The project will be jointly funded with B80mn from Patong Municipality and B100mn from the Provincial Electricity Authority,” he added.
Also, 12 more roads, including Phetkood Rd, are in the planning stages pending approval from the Phuket Forestry Department and the Phuket Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO).
“We need better road infrastructure,” he said, urging the public to be patient. “Once the project is completed, the roads will improve.”
Another project ongoing is a long-idle 12-rai plot near Graceland resort, originally designated for Muslim burial purposes, has been partially re-zoned.
“Four and a half rai will now be developed into a public sports field, supported by an B85 mn budget from the Phuket Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.
“Once the field is completed, people will have a space to gather, play sports and build a stronger sense of community. The area will be improved for the benefit of everyone,” he noted.