Financial Mirror (Cyprus)

Illegal beach structures by the municipali­ties

- Μy Antonis Loizou

Being the summer season, I visited various beaches and on occasion, noted some structures that are erected not by illegal private intruders, but by the municipali­ties themselves!

As a matter of principle, we are not against this and these beach works/buildings cannot simply be interprete­d in black and white if they are good or bad for the bathers, but some illegaliti­es just cannot be ignored. /changing rooms, install showers, etc. We are all for it. Small bays such as Serena, Vizakia, Nissia, etc, and Ayia Thekla at Sotira village are good examples of how beaches can be improved. Most of these improvemen­ts are without a license by the government, be it that the local representa­tive of the government (the District Office) turns a blind eye.

If this situation is allowed to remain unchecked, it will only get worse. If you wish to raise your objection, I suggest the following:

- Write to matter.

- Send a copy to the District Office, pointing out especially if these intrusions fall within the seashore zone.

- If no reply/ignored – write to the Ombudsman and then to the Auditor General (the latter is much feared).

Make sure that if you report such intrusions and if you have buildings of your own nearby, that the buildings are in accord with the building permit since it is not uncommon for such municipali­ties to scare you in your own illegaliti­es, in order to make you shut up.

As already said, everything is not black and white. If we take for example Ayia Napa in an area west of the village and on the beach, a municipal plot has been earmarked for bathers, which in the evenings accommodat­e weddings, beach parties, etc (at a distance from residences) for anyone who wishes to use subject to conditions of use and rental pay.

The noise and nuisance are expected to be addressed shortly and the new law provides for hefty penalties for loud noise/nuisance and this should restrict this problem, but in order to do it, we need an effective police for the purpose. Considerin­g (for example) that Ayia Napa which accommodat­es approximat­ely 300,000 tourists and there are only six police officers in the local police station, one wonders if the police are up to it to handle this and other matters.

the

municipali­ty/local www.aloizou.com.cy ala-HQ@aloizou.com.cy

authority

about

the

 ??  ?? Antonis Loizou F.R.I.C.S. is the Director of Antonis Loizou & Associates Ltd., Real Estate & Projects Developmen­t Managers
Antonis Loizou F.R.I.C.S. is the Director of Antonis Loizou & Associates Ltd., Real Estate & Projects Developmen­t Managers

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