Filenews 7 August 2023
The implementation of the Akamas Local Plan comes into full force as of September 1, 2023. The Plan that ensures the protection of the environment of the entire Akamas Peninsula and the conservation of the Natura 2000 Network areas, as well as the sustainable development and social welfare of local communities, received a six-month suspension of the implementation of the provisions in order to establish the necessary compensatory measures.
However, instead of taking decisions exclusively in those cases where the final spatial planning of the Akamas Peninsula results in a substantial and adverse effect on acquired development rights and permitted land uses, the government finally decided to formulate a plan with specific measures aimed at enhancing the development activity of the affected communities.
According to information provided by "F", the Council of Ministers that will take place at the presidential residence in Troodos on August 23, will also be informed about the actions that have been taken with the aim of obtaining the consent of the communities to the Local Plan. This will be preceded by a meeting with the communities on August 21 to inform them about the measures and actions being promoted. At the same time, they will be informed about the outcome of the suggestions submitted by the communities at the meeting they held with the leadership of the Ministries of Agriculture and Interior on July 28.
At this meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the Directors-General of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Rural Development and Environment and the General Directorate of Environment, in the presence of the Director of the Department of Town Planning and Housing, informed the community leaders and/or representatives of the Akamas communities about the measures and actions to encourage the development process. These concern:
>> Granting of an increased hectare subsidy from the Cyprus Agricultural Organization (CAPO), due to the contribution of rural land parcels to the protection of the landscape of the area, as well as to the preservation of its biodiversity.
>> Design and implementation of the main road network, as a matter of priority, in residential zones, aiming at the timely and immediate activation of development zones and the activation of idle residential land within the development limits.
>> Establishment of a local coordinating body of Akamas, aiming on the one hand to directly inform and facilitate the local population on state programs of financial support or subsidy sponsorship and on the other hand to promote local products and actions to promote the area.
>> Direct financing of infrastructure projects that will enhance the production process in the region. In this context, it was proposed to create craft infrastructures by creating a Craft Area, either by transforming the existing Craft Zone or by defining a new Craft Area.
>> Concession of economic exploitation by the community of Ineia of the visitor service hub of the Akamas National Forest Park (SAR) to be constructed in the southern bay of Lara within the administrative boundaries of Ineia. It is noted that in the wider area of the southern bay of Lara there are already two illegal restaurants and refreshments.
>> Concession of management and economic exploitation of sea salt within the Akamas NFP by the Community of Ineia and installation of climbing infrastructure for the exploitation of the Ineia Rocks, based on conditions set by the competent services.
Some of the additional issues submitted by the communities will be investigated by the co-competent Departments and will inform them accordingly on 21/08/2023. These issues are:
(a) Study for recording, mapping and utilization of the spots, which will be coordinated by the Department of Town Planning and Housing.
(b) Transfer of water to the low area of Lara from the Pegeia dam to strengthen agriculture.
(c) Assumption by the state of the operating costs for the maintenance and management of the Museums of the Akamas Communities (€15,000 per year per community).
(d) Review of the possibility of extending or moving the Livestock Zone of Neo Chorio, with a view to integrating the three livestock establishments within such an appropriate zone.
(e) Immediate treatment of the issue of the safety of visitors on the road Loutra – Fontana, location "Kakoskali".
They want beds and umbrellas in Lara
A total of 11 proposals for compensatory measures related to the Akamas Local Plan were submitted by the Community of Ineia, while another six proposals were submitted by the community of Neo Chorio in Paphos, in a meeting they had with the Ministers of Interior and Agriculture.
The president of Ineia, Yiangos Tsivikos, presented the 11 recommendations: 1) Projects with immediate implementation that will give jobs to young people to stay in communities. 2) Employment of young people from the communities in services such as Health, Forestry, SYOP in camps in the area and Department of Fisheries. 3) Financial assistance for the restoration and restoration of the many traces of the community of Ineia. 4) Assumption of operating expenses for the museums of the communities. 5) Compensation for the owners of former tourist and holiday zones, Natura 2000 Network and enclosed areas. 6) Increased subsidy from CAPO for agricultural crops. 7) Water transfer to the low area of Lara from Pegeia dam. 8) Placement of umbrellas and beds in the eastern bay of Lara. 9) To give the management of the Lara Salt Lake and the climbing rocks of Alikos and Gerakopetra to the Community. 10) To give the management of the refreshment bar in Lara Bay to the community of Ineia 11) More and practical measures to support young people with regard to housing.
For its part, the Community Council of Neo Chorio proposes six specific measures. First, that the government and the competent government departments immediately proceed with the depopulation and the design of the road network and its construction at the expense of the government of roads in all residential, holiday and tourist zones.
Secondly, it suggests that the land plots of affected owners and which were included in tourist zones of 57.5% and have been included in nature protection zones DA1PF with zero development coefficients since 1989 and remain with zero building coefficients and in the New Local Plan to be compensated or exchanged for gravel plots based on the value of 1989 plus interest and indexation.
Thirdly, it expresses the position that the existing area of livestock units should be given a livestock zone limited to the plots of existing breeders.
Fourth, it proposes that compensation to affected owners be initiated "through the creation of a green fund where income from the management of the Akamas National Park, donations from large organizations, urban planning arrangements such as transfer of development rights, exchange for state real estate, expropriation by the state at current market prices and relief to affected land owners".
Fifth, it proposes the creation of a Development Agency with the participation of the Akamas communities and the private sector and the creation of the institution of the Commissioner for the communities of Akamas and the National Forest Park as well as the area of Polis Chrysochous and the district of Polis Chrysochous.
Sixth, it proposes the creation of a "branding" for the basic agricultural products and delicacies produced in the villages and communities of Akamas.
INTERVENTION
They forgot about the compensators
President Christodoulides, in his pre-election announcements for the adoption of the necessary compensatory measures and the implementation of appropriate urban planning tools in the study area of the Akamas Local Plan, referred to specific measures to be examined. These concern the exchange of private property, the transfer of building coefficient, the creation of a green fund and the installation of photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the homes of those affected. However, We see that none of these measures seems to be considered. Essentially, the new government adopted the views of the previous one on this issue. Let us hope that the non-payment of compensation to those who have lost their acquired development rights will not be an obstacle to the implementation of the Local Plan.
