Defining the city development goals of middle sized old town: a case study of Sawankhalok City

Abstract

This paper is a part of the research ‘in searching for appropriate public participation in the medium size old city planning process in the case of Sawankhalok city’. It aims to define Sawankhalok’s development goals through the key issue analysis by examining the national, provincial and local development plans together with the interviews and public participation in an action research. As a result, it reveals the relationships and influences between those key issues. The outcome shows that the most significant circumstance that affects many other problems of Sawankhalok is the declination of the city role from a regional-agricultural trade centre because of the mode of transport change from rail to road systems. It then brought about the city economic recession and consequently people migration to other cities for a better life and greater opportunities. Furthermore, the old city has become vacant and quiet and the local cultural heritage are abandoned and heritage buildings are not in use. The suggestion for the development goals for Sawankhalok are; creating a cultural based economic opportunity from the city’s strength; promoting old and new small businesses to attract the young to come back to Sawankhalok and to foster the public participation process for all groups for a better citizen’s plan, in order to bring a new role of the city into existence. This could enhance the city economic opportunities and the city development as a whole.