Green light for walking street project

PHUKET TOWN: Thalang Rd will become a regular “walking street” between 1 pm and 11 pm on Sundays, starting from April 7. The first seven Sundays will have a “Seven Wonders” theme to attract Thais and foreigners with special activities in one of Phuket Town’s oldest and best-known streets. Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok met today with municipal officers and private event organizers at the Phuket Provincial Municipal Office (PPMO) to formalize the pedestrians-only plan. “The project will start on April 7,” the mayor said afterwards. “The theme will be ‘The Seven Wonders of Phuket’. We have asked a number of event-organizing companies to propose activities supporting the theme, and we have made suggestions for individual themes.” These, he said might include such topics as tourism, tin mining, white sandy beaches, the Heroines Monument and Sino-Portuguese architecture. The private company that comes up with the best ideas will be contracted to implement the project. According to a poll of local residents conducted by the Municipality, most support the “walking street” concept. It will, however, be reviewed after six months.