A Bangkok red light district is set to be remodelled - in the style of the unspoiled region of England known as the Cotswolds. <br /><br />The Rattanakosin Island area of the Thai capital has been used by prostitutes for decades. <br /><br />Women in the area cater to local Thai men rather than flashy gogo dancers seeking wealthy foreigners in the country’s tourist hotspots. <br /><br />But Thai military chief Prayut Chan-o-cha now wants to clean up the ancient district where the city of Bangkok first developed in the 1700s.<br /><br />The military leader reportedly said his ‘’dream’’ is to see the red-light area plagued with homelessness and poverty become ‘’an important tourist attraction reminiscent of England's Cotswolds.’’<br /><br />The area is surrounded circled by Oxford, Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon.<br /><br />According to the Bangkok Post, the PM is said to have been inspired by Bourton-on-the-Water located among the area's rolling hills and known as "the Little Venice of the Cotswolds." <br /><br />In Bangkok, the historic red-light district has several canals that bear a passing similarity to the idyllic village. However, Thailand's street food sellers and scruffy scrap metal hawkers might raise eyebrows in the English countryside.<br /><br />The government’s Defence Ministry permanent secretary Gen Nat Intarachareon told the Bangkok Post he will proceed with the plan to regenerate the area in the image of the Cotswolds.<br /><br />He said: ''Yellow star flowers will be cultivated along the canals. Old buildings will be renovated and repainted in soft yellow.''<br /><br />The military dictator first ordered the prostitution-plagued area to be cleaned up in February, with volunteers dredging the filthy canals and solar-powered floating water cleaners being installed.<br /><br />Bangkok Metropolitan Authority officials led by Phaitoon Khamparat inspected the area and found it was not appropriate to have prostitution there ‘’damaging the image of Thailand.’’<br /><br />Mr Khamparat told local media that women should be encouraged to pursue alternative sources of income. <br /><br />He said: ‘’The second part of the plan is to re-adjust this area and landscape so it is not suitable for prostitution. By making the area clean with more electric lights, we can add CCTV to monitor the offenders.<br /><br />‘’Thirdly, new public activities should be introduced to the area to encourage tourism.’’
