Locals push for Aetas demolition

A group of residents yesterday petitioned the Central Administrative Court demanding it pressure Pathumwan district office in the capital to demolish the upper storeys of the Aetas Hotel.

Twenty-four residents of Soi Ruamrudee, accompanied by Chaloempong Klabdee, a lawyer from the Foundation for Consumers, yesterday lodged the petition with the court, accusing the Pathumwan district office of foot-dragging.

The move came after the office failed to comply with the Supreme Administrative Court’s order in 2014 which told the office to raze the upper floors of the hotel within 60 days as it had breached regulations under the Building Control Act 1979.

Under the act, a building higher than eight storeys cannot be built on a road that is less than 10 metres wide.

However, the district chief instead issued an order declaring the building off-limits to the two proprietors of the hotel.

The owners were also able to submit a petition if they disagreed with the order.

The owners later petitioned the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, claiming they had new evidence to prove Soi Ruamrudee was wider than 10 metres. The building is still standing, which upsets the residents.

Mr Chaloempong said the district chief’s order was issued in favour of the hotel owners.

Shortly after the petition was submitted, an expedited trial was also held at the Central Administrative Court. The trial was also attended by staff from Pathumwan district office.

The court said the district chief’s order could be used in normal cases involving residents’ complaints as it had been in the past, which was different from the Aetas Hotel case in which the Supreme Administrative Court’s order was final. Therefore, the court said district office must comply with the order.

If the district office is found to have failed to comply with the order, those involved in the demolition case could face a fine of 50,000 baht each as well as disciplinary action, the court said.