Donggang residents accuse restaurant's parking lot of blocking access; operator claims multiple unresolved coordination efforts
Donggang residents protested a restaurant's parking lot obstructing their passage, demanding a way home. The operator claims repeated coordination failed, with both sides holding different views, impacting residents and emergency vehicle access.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 09:53
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 10:01 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 10:36 (34 min after Collected)
CNA
(CNA reporter Huang Yu-ching, Pingtung County, April 21) A parking lot built by a well-known seafood restaurant in Donggang, Pingtung, on private land has led to protests from adjacent residents. Yesterday, residents launched a protest, accusing the facility of obstructing their access and forcing them to climb over a low wall to get home, hoping to regain their passage. The operator stated that previous coordination efforts repeatedly failed due to a lack of consensus among residents.
The 12 households adjacent to the restaurant's parking lot launched a protest yesterday afternoon, led by independent Pingtung County Councilor Jiang Yuehui. They shouted slogans like "Restaurant blocks road, hard to get home," demanding at least a basic passage space of 2.5 meters.
Councilor Jiang pointed out that the access issue has troubled residents for 8 years. Previously, the landowner had erected temporary metal sheeting, leaving only a passage about the width of an umbrella. Two weeks ago, the entrance was elevated by approximately 106 centimeters, and iron posts and blocking facilities were installed. The height difference makes it difficult for the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and infants to pass, posing a safety risk for the elderly who have to climb over the low wall. Furthermore, motorcycle access is difficult, let alone for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks.
A resident surnamed Wu told CNA reporters that they hope a fair third party will intervene and mediate, allowing residents to purchase a 2 to 3 meter wide space for at least motorcycle passage. Regarding the past rental offers from the operator, he believes that the landowner could renege on the rental agreement at any time, providing insufficient security for the residents.
Restaurant owner Xiao Shoufa stated that shortly after signing a letter of intent to purchase in 2018, the 12 households, through their elected representatives, expressed their intention to purchase the land, and he was willing to prioritize them at the time. However, the land includes both building land and planned road land. The residents were only willing to purchase the building land, and some residents were unwilling to purchase the land at all. After negotiations with the previous landowner broke down, he completed the land purchase as agreed.
Xiao Shoufa pointed out that in the initial negotiations, he proposed a "win-win" plan, reserving about 3.5 meters for passage and placing parking spaces at the other end. However, the residents did not accept it. Subsequent negotiations included a monthly rent of NT$1, with a lease agreement, but some residents insisted on free passage, and some residents even put up banners calling him unethical, affecting the restaurant's reputation. As for the low wall, it was mainly to prevent vehicles from accelerating uncontrollably. Regarding the issue of inconvenient access for ambulances and fire trucks, he proposed providing residents with remote controls for the gate as a solution.
Local sources revealed that the case was coordinated by the Donggang Township Office about 4 years ago. Two of the 12 households were not affected by the access issues, and about 8 households were once willing to accept the 3.5-meter passage plan. However, a minority of residents repeatedly went back on their word, causing several coordination efforts to fail. Additionally, to improve passage, illegal extensions behind the residences could also be removed.
The residents in this case had previously filed a lawsuit, arguing that the land had been used for passage for 40 years, and the road used for passage at the back door was a shared wall with someone else's house, leaving no other way, thus demanding the right of passage. However, both the first and second trials ruled in favor of the landowner, determining that residents were occupying the passage, and residents were not allowed to pass, park vehicles, or store items. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150421
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(CNA reporter Huang Yu-ching, Pingtung County, April 21) A parking lot built by a well-known seafood restaurant in Donggang, Pingtung, on private land has led to protests from adjacent residents. Yesterday, residents launched a protest, accusing the facility of obstructing their access and forcing them to climb over a low wall to get home, hoping to regain their passage. The operator stated that previous coordination efforts repeatedly failed due to a lack of consensus among residents.
The 12 households adjacent to the restaurant's parking lot launched a protest yesterday afternoon, led by independent Pingtung County Councilor Jiang Yuehui. They shouted slogans like "Restaurant blocks road, hard to get home," demanding at least a basic passage space of 2.5 meters.
Councilor Jiang pointed out that the access issue has troubled residents for 8 years. Previously, the landowner had erected temporary metal sheeting, leaving only a passage about the width of an umbrella. Two weeks ago, the entrance was elevated by approximately 106 centimeters, and iron posts and blocking facilities were installed. The height difference makes it difficult for the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and infants to pass, posing a safety risk for the elderly who have to climb over the low wall. Furthermore, motorcycle access is difficult, let alone for emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks.
A resident surnamed Wu told CNA reporters that they hope a fair third party will intervene and mediate, allowing residents to purchase a 2 to 3 meter wide space for at least motorcycle passage. Regarding the past rental offers from the operator, he believes that the landowner could renege on the rental agreement at any time, providing insufficient security for the residents.
Restaurant owner Xiao Shoufa stated that shortly after signing a letter of intent to purchase in 2018, the 12 households, through their elected representatives, expressed their intention to purchase the land, and he was willing to prioritize them at the time. However, the land includes both building land and planned road land. The residents were only willing to purchase the building land, and some residents were unwilling to purchase the land at all. After negotiations with the previous landowner broke down, he completed the land purchase as agreed.
Xiao Shoufa pointed out that in the initial negotiations, he proposed a "win-win" plan, reserving about 3.5 meters for passage and placing parking spaces at the other end. However, the residents did not accept it. Subsequent negotiations included a monthly rent of NT$1, with a lease agreement, but some residents insisted on free passage, and some residents even put up banners calling him unethical, affecting the restaurant's reputation. As for the low wall, it was mainly to prevent vehicles from accelerating uncontrollably. Regarding the issue of inconvenient access for ambulances and fire trucks, he proposed providing residents with remote controls for the gate as a solution.
Local sources revealed that the case was coordinated by the Donggang Township Office about 4 years ago. Two of the 12 households were not affected by the access issues, and about 8 households were once willing to accept the 3.5-meter passage plan. However, a minority of residents repeatedly went back on their word, causing several coordination efforts to fail. Additionally, to improve passage, illegal extensions behind the residences could also be removed.
The residents in this case had previously filed a lawsuit, arguing that the land had been used for passage for 40 years, and the road used for passage at the back door was a shared wall with someone else's house, leaving no other way, thus demanding the right of passage. However, both the first and second trials ruled in favor of the landowner, determining that residents were occupying the passage, and residents were not allowed to pass, park vehicles, or store items. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150421
Stand with the facts, and your sponsorship is the power to protect the freedom of the press.
Download the CNA "First-Hand News" app for real-time updates.
The text, images, and audio on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.
Keywords: