Twenty communities in Rattanakosin Island will come out in force next week to protest against the planned Formula 1 night race in the historic area.
NOT ON OUR STREETS: A photo of a car crashing is shown at a seminar at Thammasat University Saturday that was held to oppose a proposed Formula 1 race in Bangkok.
Two-hundred opponents of the race agreed at a seminar held at Thammasat University Saturday that they, along with cultural and environmental groups, will gather at Democracy Monument next Saturday to demonstrate against the street race.
Their protest aims to stop the Sports Authority of Thailand from asking the cabinet to approve an F1 circuit, which, according to SAT governor Kanokphand Chulakasem, will cost about five billion baht.
The SAT agrees with the International Motoring Federation (FIA)'s proposal for Rattanakosin Island to serve as a venue for the race and needs to get the green light from cabinet this month to be able to sign an agreement with the FIA this year.
Rattanakosin Island is surrounded by the Chao Phraya River and canals. It houses the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the National Museum and Ratchadamnoen Avenue, which have long helped shape the identity of Bangkok.
While F1 supporters believe the event, scheduled for 2015, would help promote Thai tourism and reflect well on the country for organising a world-class event, opponents express concern over the impact on historical buildings.
The planned 5.995km circuit would allow F1 drivers to race past, in addition to the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and a section of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the ancient Phra Sumen Fortress and communities in Rattanakosin Island.
Srisakra Valibhotama, a prominent anthropologist and archaeologist, told Saturday's forum that it is "not appropriate" to hold a street race on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, whose name means "a path where the monarch travels" in Thai.
The protesters, especially residents in the 20 communities, are also worried about the noise caused by the racing cars at night as well as the vibration that may damage old trackside buildings.
A law restricts noise levels from cars on Bangkok streets to between 80 and 90 decibels, but the F1 cars would produce more than 100 decibels, said Thammasat second-year student Kasidit Kruthangphar.
Thammasat social sciences lecturer Pathomroek Ketthat wants the SAT to locate the racing circuit elsewhere.
"I'm an F1 fan but racing here [Rattanakosin Island] is an issue of the wrong place and the wrong time," he said.