AKROTIRI - BRITISH WANT TO INSTAL 32 ANTENNAS - LOCAL AUTHORITIES REJECT THE PLANS - RISK OF TRAPPING THE COMMUNITY BETWEEN TWO MILITARY ZONES - Filenews 28/3
The British want to install a new cluster with 32 antennas in Akrotiri, expropriating a large area according to information from the state broadcaster, at a time when the discussion of the status of the British bases has opened for good.
According to the RIK report, in 2018 18 antennas were installed, which would have been temporary and would have been removed in 2025, which did not happen.
As the Mayor of Kourion, Pantelis Georgiou, told Filenews, if the British proceed with this plan, Akrotiri will find itself trapped between two military zones, the airport in the east and the new antenna installations in the west.
As Mr. Georgiou said, the British informed that they will address a request to the Cypriot authorities for the expropriation of a large area of more than 300 stairs. Asked about the effects on the health of residents from the radiation from the antennas, Mr. Georgiou replied that the British promised that they would prepare a study to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local authorities, that the antennas do not cause health problems. In fact, they said that the antennas will be installed outside the impact zone and that they will install three electromagnetic energy meters in the area.
The local authorities are strongly opposed to these plans, since, as Mr. Georgiou told us, Akrotiri will be trapped within two military areas, which, as it turned out after the drone attack on the British facilities, will cause a greater sense of insecurity among the residents.
"Health issues should be clarified. What is their plan for the region," said Mr. Georgiou, adding that the local authorities will hire a constitutionalist to take legal measures.
Regarding the alarms for security incidents that occurred in March, Mr. Georgiou said that now the community of Akrotiri has returned to normality and the residents to the normal flow of their daily lives, however aviation activity in the area continues, especially at night.
