Village chief Natchai Sangsri has put large tree
branches across both entrances to Soi Long Poi where thieves have been
stealing the drain covers, making it hazardous to travel there.
Patcharapol Panrak
After waiting a month for Sattahip authorities to replace
three stolen drain covers on Soi Long Poi, a village chief took it upon
himself to close down the street after six more covers were taken.
Natchai Sangsri, headman for Moo 6, put tree branches
across both entrances to the soi Jan. 5 after determining he could no longer
allow local residents to face the dangers of holes in the roadway. He said
he waited a month for Khet Udomsak Sub-district officials to do something,
but they did nothing. In the interim, one motorbike driver has been injured
after driving into a hole.
The problem began Dec. 9 when residents discovered
thieves in pickup trucks had begun pulling the iron grates off the roadway
to sell for scrap. Natchai blocked the soi and put up warning signs, but a
Tawhan Restaurant employee driving who ignored the warning and was driving
with his lights off fell into an open drain, sustaining a head injury.
With nine drain covers now missing, the village chief
said he feared more injuries and made larger blockades of the soi. He hopes
the disruption to traffic finally gets the attention of sub-district
officials.
