HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

In defense of pedestrians

Re: pipeline to address the provincial water shortage

Traffic lights aren’t working

Conservation is the key

Bad road

In defense of pedestrians

Dear editor;

I was somewhat surprised at Jomtien Hotpapa’s response to my suggestion pedestrians should be regulated at the Walking Street/South Pattaya Road junction, 24th June, but then with the alias Hotpapa I am not surprised it never dawned on the poor soul that it might actually be of benefit to himself and his hard done by fellow pedestrians as well as motorists!

I must admit to using the Bentley occasionally when I am entertaining some dignitaries who might be able to do me some favors in my many and varied businesses, no names, no pack drill, but I also admit to riding a bicycle to and from the beach every day and sometimes being even more adventurous on it. In that guise I am part of a group despised by everyone, and on the odd occasion, being lucky enough to have two feet, I actually walk, so I have an inkling of what Hotpapa is complaining about.

A motorcycle I baulk at owning, but every so often take a motorbike taxi just to remind me that being a part time bicyclist, pedestrian and driver (God how versatile I am) there is still no thrill like a motorcycle ride down Sukhumvit Road, or any road in Pattaya for that matter, to remind one how temporal this life can be.

Poor Hotpapa doesn’t seem to have cottoned onto the fact that all motorcyclists here have a death wish, not only for themselves but anyone else they can manage to run down.

City hall must have a weekly meeting to play the hilarious videos of pedestrians being bushwhacked by the many ambushes placed strategically everywhere, 1st prize for the highest scoring ambush: 10.000 baht.

The baht bus drivers and car drivers (all except me, I don’t want any blood or dents on the precious Bentley) obviously regard pedestrians as fair game as well, so it looks as if everyone needs more than a belief in Buddhism to survive as pedestrians in this city and its environs.

Perhaps the time has come for Hotpapa to become Coolpapa, and invest in some rollerblades. Looking down all the time to avoid the numerous potholes everywhere, he will soon be a very cool papa indeed, in the morgue, till the cremation ceremony when, Hallelujah, he will be resurrected as Hotpapa, the untouchable, eternal pedestrian in Pattaya!

I will probably be on my bicycle, ringing my bell, behind you, forever!

Till then best wishes,
Richard Walton

Re: pipeline to address the provincial water shortage

Dear Sirs,

After reading about the government’s plan to build a pipeline to address the provincial water shortage in Chonburi, I gleaned the following facts:

1. The pipeline will be approximately 90km long

2. Will pump 12,000 liters per day into the Bangphra reservoir

3. Will be complete in 2014...

Wait a minute! ...2014? That’s 10 years! 10 years to run a water pipe 90km? Who’s building this pipeline, the Keebler elves?

Just as a point of comparison I thought I would share the following comparative data for my Thai and farang friends in the Chonburi province.

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the US state of Alaska has the following statistics:

1. 1336km long

2. 172,800,000 liters per day in current operation

3. Took 2 years to build from start to finish.

So, if we compare the two (and I haven’t mentioned $$$ here) the Alaskan Pipeline is 14,400 times larger in terms of current volume, 14.84 times longer, and took 20% of the construction time?

What’s wrong with this picture? So Thailand’s going to lay 9km per year? Can anyone explain why it will move so slowly?

We need the pipeline sure. But the more immediate needs are...

1. Better water management... all the drains run to the ocean, nothing gets recycled and put back into the freshwater system.

2. Better water management... even when we had water, trucks were constantly driving to the reservoir to fill up and go sell it elsewhere.

3. Better water management... Thailand gets plenty of rain, the problem is there’s no water catchment program to get the water to the reservoirs that doesn’t fall directly into them.

4. Better water management... The government needs to stop allowing further development of housing in and around Pattaya when they can’t support what’s already in place!

Can someone please stand up and take responsibility for making the hard decisions and serve the taxpayer’s interests for once? And will the media please stop reporting that the reservoirs are at less than 50%? Duh. Sure it’s true, but accurate reporting would be closer to 20% if not less.

Very Sincerely,
C. Williams
Pattaya

Traffic lights aren’t working

Dear Editor,

Placing traffic cones at the intersection of Sukhumvit Highway & Thepprasit Roads to preclude vehicles travelling West on Thepprasit from turning right onto Sukhumvit is one solution to the “No Lights for You” dilemma at that locale, but what of the poor souls trying to turn right from Sukhumvit Highway onto Thepprasit Road?

How long can it take to activate the brand new lights that are in place but not in operation? How many accidents will be reported before action is taken? Traffic coming from the South on Sukhumvit arrives at that intersection at no less than 80 kph.

Your newspaper has a broad readership, hopefully you can push the right buttons (no pun intended) to get those lights operational.

Thank you,
Pattaya Paul

Conservation is the key

To Our Honorable Mayer and the Water Dept;

One cannot admire your addressing the water problem in Pattaya. Since we do not manufacture water, we must depend on it from a higher source, which can as we all know be a frustrating problem.

I come from a large city (NYC) and have lived in other parts of the world which have at one time or another faced similar problems. A key element is conservation. That is what we can do now! And what plans we have for the future. Campaigns stressing citizens to help conserve water are helpful, but often fall on deaf ears. So I would like to present to you some ideas that you could consider. I have seen these work in other parts of the world.

1. All homes being built have gutters to catch rainwater for storage in tanks for use of watering other than human consumption.

2. All present homes given subsidy for this type of improvement. Commercial properties must also adhere to this. Unless authorized, no buildings in Pattaya will have water fall from roof into sewers (this does help in flooding).

3. Limit the amount of water flow for flushing toilets: 1. New projects. 2. Old homes to be considered for city financing to adjust present mandate.

4. Businesses that depend on using water for its main purpose must have a well and a water recycling system.

5. Regular businesses should look into feasibility of water recycling for use in consumption other than hygiene or humane consumption.

6. Until such time as water problem start to alleviate, ask all to limit watering of lawns and cars to early morning or evening time.

7. Restaurants need not put out water for diners initially. Water is given on an “asked for” basis.

These are just some ideas that come to mind. I am sure that residents of this city who have come from other parts of the world could add to this list, and I invite them to help the city in this time of crisis.

Ron Fleitman

Bad road

Editor;

I have just been on your web site to keep up with the news in and around Pattaya. What caught my eye was the article on the Dao Caf้ by the “Dining Out” team. It was not the food but the statement that the road to the caf้ is dreadful. I have lived in the same area for several years and it is absolutely unbelievable that a road which gives access to hundreds of homes is in such a deplorable state. Can anybody cast a light on this gloomy situation?

Regards,
Mitch Wilson

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.