PATTAYA: Marine authorities have asked police to take action against the owner of a hotel featuring a 21-year-old swimming pool that encroaches on the sea.
The pool, however, isn't the only problem facing the Golden Cliff House Hotel. In an unrelated case, authorities have charged the operator with renting rooms by the day even though he only had permission to offer monthly rentals.
Local residents have long expressed their doubts about the construction of the seafront swimming pool behind the hotel on Yin Yom beach in tambon Nong Phreu in Bang Lamung district.
On its website, the hotel describes itself as "a luxury boutique resort ... styled like a Victorian castle and set in a dream location".
Pattaya Marine Office director Agarach Kuntaro said on Saturday that his office inspected the pool after receiving a complaint two weeks ago.
An initial inspection found that the pool, 26x30 metres or 780 sq m, encroached on the sea in violation of regulations.
A Google Maps satellite image shows the Golden Cliff House Hotel swimming pool jutting into the sea off Pattaya.
The owner had received permission from Pattaya authorities to build the hotel and other structures on its land and paid taxes on its premises. However, the pool built in 1995 clearly did not conform, he said.
Section 117 of the Navigation in Thai Waters Act prohibits construction of structures that encroach into waters, canals, lakes, sea and other public waterways, unless permission is sought from marine authorities. The hotel had never sought such permission, said Mr Agarach, who filed a formal complaint last Wednesday with Pattaya police.
In the complaint, he asked police to take action against the hotel owner, Chantiraporn Vorakulsathian, for building a structure without permission from his office.
Mr Agarach said his office had followed proper procedures against the encroacher. Because several legal issues were involved, such as legislation on building control and demolition of encroaching structures, various agencies had to look into the matter, he said.
The hotel is operated by Wanthanan Yimlamai, 64. He told Mr Agarach that he rented the property from Ms Chantiraporn, and that the pool had been built years before he got involved in the business.
But Mr Wanthanan now faces more difficulties following an inspection of the property on Saturday by Bang Lamung district officials and police. They found the hotel was renting rooms by the day without permission, and was only supposed to be providing monthly rentals.
The officials, led by Bang Lamung district chief Narit Niramaiwong, seized brochures, hotel registration forms and copies of guests' ID cards for inspection.
The initial investigation found that the operator had been providing daily room rentals since January last year. It has 47 rooms that cost between 1,500 and 5,000 baht a night.
Mr Wanthanan was taken to the Pattaya police station and later released on 40,000-baht bail.
A local official said that Mr Wanthanan could seek permission from Bang Lamung authorities for a hotel business operation licence after corrections were made.
Pattaya Marine Office director Agarach Kuntaro says the owner of the Golden Cliff House had construction permission from Pattaya authorities but the swimming pool was clearly illegal. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)