Filenews 3 November 2022 - by Ioanna Mantzipa
At 10.00 in the morning, the owners and employees of leisure centres in the Lady Mile area of Limassol descended in a spontaneous protest, following the decision of the British bases to shut them down during the winter months.
This decision concerns four of the six recreation centres, since the other two were not decided to close, on the grounds that they are located on private land.
The protest took place outside the base headquarters and outside the M1 police station of the bases in Kolossi.
"Colonial tactics"
In his statements, Filios Dimitriadis, the restaurant owner, spoke of "colonial tactics" on the part of the bases, at the same time that there should be a dialogue on the issue. As he said characteristically, a large police force of the bases invaded their premises and imposed a lock.
According to him, the owners of the premises requested this year an extension of the seven months of operation of the recreation centres, based on their agreement with the bases, without response.
"We are trying to afford and keep the staff," Mr. Dimitriadis said.
The response of the bases
"We expect all facilities/businesses within the SBA to abide by the rules regarding their operation, described in the terms of their operating license. Anyone found to have violated them faces the possibility of imposing measures that may include prosecution, fines and revocation of licenses."
"Lady Mile is an important area of environmental awareness. The British bases take safety and environmental conservation very seriously and have put in place a variety of rules to ensure that disruption to wildlife and the wider ecosystem in the region is kept to an absolute minimum."
