Most vendors affected by the closure of five markets in the Seri Villa housing estate project in Prawet district are happy with the new locations found for them by City Hall, according to Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.
A survey of the actual number of vendors affected by the market closures revealed about 400 traded at the weekend and another 200 vendors were there on weekdays, Pol Gen Aswin said Tuesday.
About 70%-80% of these vendors are happy with new locations being offered by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in a measure aimed at mitigating the sudden impact the market closures at Seri Villa will have on them, he said.
There are four new locations situated nearby, namely Talat Nat Rot Fai Srinakarin, Talat Number One Ram 2, Talat Ratchaphruek and an area opposite Seacon Square shopping mall on Srinakarin Road, he said.
Although some of the new locations are fully occupied, the BMA is considering expanding them so the Seri Villa traders are assured of space, Pol Gen Aswin said.
All four markets are being ordered to offer between 100 and 200 new stalls for the relocated vendors, he said.
The vendors will be charged 100 baht per day at the new locations on weekdays, while those trading at the weekend will be charged 250 baht per day, Pol Gen Aswin.
The legal dispute over the Seri Villa markets hit the headlines on Feb 19 when two angry women smashed up a market-goer's parked pickup truck which was blocking their driveway.
The incident also focused media attention on hundreds of other city markets and the BMA's management of them, which led to a series of market inspections.
It raised concerns about how many were operating legally after it was revealed that all five at Seri Villa were in violation of city ordinances and were ordered shut.
Pol Gen Aswin said Tuesday he is due to testify in the Administrative Court on Friday in a case brought against the BMA over the five Seri Villa markets.
According to a BMA study 364 markets are operating legally, while the status of many more is unclear, Pol Gen Aswin said without giving an exact number.
