Vendors sell on a roadside in Preah Sihanouk province last year. Hong Menea
Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kouch Chamroeun said vehicles are not permitted to park on any public pavements and the display of products is also prohibited, except for sidewalks where owners need to drive into a property to park a vehicle.
The governor said that in order to turn the province into a model multi-purpose special economic zone, the government will develop 34 user-friendly streets in town, implemented by the National committee for Coastal Management and Development. The provincial administration plans to build more roads using the provincial budget.
The roads will be designed in accordance with technical requirements and standards using traffic signs and lights, street lights, trees, security cameras, and granite or corrugated paving on the pavements for pedestrians. There will also be lanes for people with disabilities to use.
“In the past, we have seen that people who own businesses ... have used the pavements as a place to display products and for parking.
This situation has made the provincial streets lose their appeal and order and affected pedestrians who have no where to walk,” Chamroeun confirmed.
Therefore, Chamroeun said, authorities would stop vehicles parking or driving on pavements, except for people who need to cross them to access their property.
“Business owners ... need to properly organise a parking place for their customers to avoid using the roadside as a parking lot,” he said.
In addition, the provincial administration will not allow vendors and eatery owners to occupy pavements for their business such as selling food, displaying stalls and for personal benefits.
“Pavements are for pedestrians and cyclists . . . If the paving is damaged, it is the responsibility of the homeowner or the person who caused the damage to fix it,” he said.
Business owners who have a parking place have to submit an application to the provincial administration. If the request is approved, all expenses are the responsibility of the applicant, Chamroeun added.
He warned that authorities will apply administrative measures and the road traffic law on business owners who do not follow the guidelines.
