Village loudspeakers a public nuisance
Friday, January 27, 2006
Phuket Gazette

I have been living in a tranquil housing estate in Thalang for more than seven years. It was a pleasant place to live until about a month ago when, about 100 meters from my house, someone erected a tower with four loudspeakers on top of it.

Every day since then, including Sundays, at 7 am, these speakers blast out Radio Thailand for one full hour. Sleep is impossible thanks to the volume of this broadcast, and the poor sound quality is offensive and an intrusion on the privacy of every person living nearby.

I have no wish to listen to this particular radio station; nor do my Thai neighbors to whom I have mentioned it.

One of my neighbors has just lost the sale of his house because of the noise. Another lost his rental tenant, who left to find a place where his peace and quiet are respected.

Meanwhile, my next-door neighbor is consulting his lawyer about issuing a civil action lawsuit to cover loss of income from lost rental contracts due to the dreadful din caused by the speakers.

These loudspeakers do not belong on a modern international resort island anywhere in the world, let alone in a peaceful country like Thailand.

Please, can we get rid of them so we can have some quiet and enjoy the news of our own selection?

Friday, January 27, 2006
тАЬThank you for bringing this to our attention. The Public Works Department does not have authority to dismantle the tower or speakers as the decision to erect them was made at a higher level of the Municipality, but I can order the the volume turned down or broadcasts stopped if necessary.

We will not allow the broadcasts to start again if they cause a nuisance to people. тАЭ

Friday, January 27, 2006 Jatupon Wechapun, Public Works Engineer, Thepkrasattri Municipality.

тАЬPlease note that after K. Jatupon gave this reply, he called again to confirm that he has ordered the local тАШradio stationтАЩ тАУ run by the gamagan chumchon, or village elders, as a тАШserviceтАЩ to the community тАУ to shut down.

He invited anyone with similar complaints in the future to call him at the Engineering Department, at Tel: 076-311381 or 076-311952. тАЭ

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