Hua Hin's architectural heritage under threat

[The understudy]

I guess I'm with Sand67 and Megs right there!
The Chatchai Market is something worth saving.
A seven storey new market plus car park would completely Kill of the Town center as it happened in Bolton as Sandman mentioned.
The expat community should join the local conservation movement hire a an A list Lawver and study the building code restriction maticously and remind City officials of these restrictions.
I think another refurbishment of Chatchai market could be done to to rewive ii's fortune.

Your's The understudy!!!!

[Jaime]

Are you people real - Chatchai worth saving??
As Jim said it may be horrible, dirty, smelly and all that, but to me its got character. When I first went there it was everything that I thought a Thai market should be, it was genuinely like something off the tv.
Add to that the rats. cockroaches, slip/trip hazards, offal and detritus on the floor, cats/dogs, motorbikes wheedling along with oversized loads etc etc.
So whats wrong with hygiene and modernisation??? Maybe the idea of chatchai should stay as a nice 1950's picture not a dirty/dilapated 2010 "abortion" - (margaret's word). Have a squizz at Singapore and some Malaysian markets - they can do it without totally losing the plot.
There are still plenyy of the Thai style markets (for want of a better description) at Kao Takiap, Pranburi, NongKae etc if you want to reminisce.

I don't quite get the point of your post Charles.....

Are you saying that for a building to have character it must be "horrible, dirty, smelly and all that?"

[margaretcarnes]

Hmmm - I think Charlesh means that ChatChai could be renovated and modernised to a better standard of hygeine without ruining it's character? I'd like to see that too - and it can be done - but the powers that be maybe don't see it as worthwhile. Not enough return.
Really the floors and drainage are the main problem. I can't be the only one to have gone a.... over t.. on the slimey floor in there! But my point about new 'abortions' was that they are often just that because they lack character.

Thanks Understudy for your sound advice, and let's hope the expat community will act on it.

[charlesh]

Spot on Margaret. Have to agree with s/m re: the ridiculous use of signs, blind corners, uncovered service pits, uneven surfaces, obstructions in walkways, rusted out, awnings, dilapidated blinds and spaghetti wiring too or is this part of the HH heritage that people want to protect too??

[Jimbob]

This might being off topic but how are all these well meaning concerns conveyed to the Municpal council? What voting power is possible to ex-pats or is just a case of talking to the voting locals who can convey opinions?

[Korkenzieher]

I would suggest that if there is a domestic campaign to save Chatchai, then those who wish to see it preserved could join that.

However, I rather suspect that most of the locals would probably prefer to see the whole minging mess swept away, and something new in its place. Character is something best appreciated when you don't have to work knee deep in it!

[margaretcarnes]

Now almost a month since the last post on ChatChais fate - have there been any developments?