Ydraiou΄s proposal not approved - Municipal Council vote against Erimitis investment
Municipal Council
25 Feb 2020
/ 07:20
CORFU. The topic of discussion at yesterday΄s Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands Municipal Council meeting was the Erimitis investment - or, more accurately, an update of previous decisions.
The Council voted to discuss the Erimitis investment first even though the zero waste issue had been listed as the first topic. Once again, there was a large public turnout to follow the meeting - both from Erimitis groups and those there for the topic of zero waste.
The leader of the 'Prota I Kerkyra' party Giorgos Kaloudis gave the main address and stated that the decision taken would be of historic importance, giving the example of the decision of the Corfu Municipal Council in the past to demolish the Municipal Theatre as a dark chapter in Corfu's history.
He reminded the Council of what he called the 'scandalous' property sale in 2017 when 30 stremma was sold for 2m when the Tax Office valued it at 16m - and prposed that the Municipality bought it for that price.
The leader of the main opposition party Yiannis Trepeklis declared his opposition to the investment and declared that it was a matter of grave importance. He said that the tourism model has changed today and that the environment now has prominence. He reminded everyone of the efforts that had been made for Corfu's Old Town to be listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site and spoke against Adonis Giorgiades' legislative amendment which 'waters down', as he said, the responsibilities of local authorities. All the other opposition parties also protested against the Minister for Development.
The former three-time Mayor and present-day leader of the 'Kerkyraiki Anagennisi' party Chrysanthos Sarlis also lambasted the investment. "Every square metre that is built on devalues the region," he said. "To destroy the balanced tourist development in the area is not an investment. Over 30 areas in Corfu have been destroyed by this type of investment but this is something that Mr. Giorgiades cannot understand. Cement doesn't bring money - otherwise Attica would be the richest region in the world." He stressed that investment means creating infrastructure, water supply, a proper road network and cleansing - all of which the whole of Corfu is lacking in.
The other parties also declared themselves against the investment - Laiki Sispirosi, Maria Dri, Lefteris Markatis, Spyros Neratzis and Giorgos Karydis, who proposed that a referendum be held.
There then followed a discussion with only a few 'tense' moments.
The meeting was addressed by the following: President of Erimitis Plus Association Dimitris Fatiras, Laiki Sispirosi Regional Councillor Babis Haralambos, Jenny Skembri from North Corfu Women's Association, Environmental Association President and Regional Councillor for the Anti-Capitalist Left Vera Koronaki and North Corfu Municipal Councillor Socrates Trifonas.
The last to speak was Mayor Meropi Ydraiou, who said that there was an "abundance of hypocrisy". She also referred to the past and talked about her time in the local authority when she had fought on the issue of land and town planning but had been "stoned' by others, as she put it. She made allegations about Yiannis Trepeklis' time as Mayor, when the environmental studies had been approved in three days and laid blame on previous local authorities which hadn't properly protected the area with land planning. "I don't like it when the cards are marked and there are crocodile tears to try and make a good impression on the public," Ms. Ydraiou said.
The two proposals
The proposal from the 8 opposition parties (Trepeklis, Kaloudis, Sarlis, Borbotis, Markatis, Dri, Neratzis and Karydis):
- The Council maintains its previous decisions and is completely against any privatisation, concreting and abuse of the bountiful natural resources in Erimitis.
- The withdrawal of Minister Adonis Giorgiades' legislative amendment which 'punishes' local authorities by overriding their responsibility.
- The Government and all the political parties declare Erimitis a protected area of bountiful natural resources and prohibit any kind of construction there, and that it be used as an ecological park for public use.
- The Municipality to challenge any administrative acts issued and to support the North Corfu Municipality in the continuation of the legal battle started by Corfu Municipality.
- MPs and the Regional Governor should accept their responsibilities.
The proposal from Mayor Meropi Ydraiou:
- Immediate land planning and town planning legislation.
- Respecting the autonomy of the North Corfu Municipality, allow it to make its decision and then to give support.
- We don't wish to compromise the local authority's rights and responsibilities - on the contrary, we request that authority and resources be reinstated in order to function in a way beneficial to the island.
The proposal from the 8 parties won by 24 votes against 15, with Spyros Poulis abstaining.
The leader of the 'Prota I Kerkyra' party Giorgos Kaloudis gave the main address and stated that the decision taken would be of historic importance, giving the example of the decision of the Corfu Municipal Council in the past to demolish the Municipal Theatre as a dark chapter in Corfu's history.
He reminded the Council of what he called the 'scandalous' property sale in 2017 when 30 stremma was sold for 2m when the Tax Office valued it at 16m - and prposed that the Municipality bought it for that price.
The leader of the main opposition party Yiannis Trepeklis declared his opposition to the investment and declared that it was a matter of grave importance. He said that the tourism model has changed today and that the environment now has prominence. He reminded everyone of the efforts that had been made for Corfu's Old Town to be listed as a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site and spoke against Adonis Giorgiades' legislative amendment which 'waters down', as he said, the responsibilities of local authorities. All the other opposition parties also protested against the Minister for Development.
The former three-time Mayor and present-day leader of the 'Kerkyraiki Anagennisi' party Chrysanthos Sarlis also lambasted the investment. "Every square metre that is built on devalues the region," he said. "To destroy the balanced tourist development in the area is not an investment. Over 30 areas in Corfu have been destroyed by this type of investment but this is something that Mr. Giorgiades cannot understand. Cement doesn't bring money - otherwise Attica would be the richest region in the world." He stressed that investment means creating infrastructure, water supply, a proper road network and cleansing - all of which the whole of Corfu is lacking in.
The other parties also declared themselves against the investment - Laiki Sispirosi, Maria Dri, Lefteris Markatis, Spyros Neratzis and Giorgos Karydis, who proposed that a referendum be held.
There then followed a discussion with only a few 'tense' moments.
The meeting was addressed by the following: President of Erimitis Plus Association Dimitris Fatiras, Laiki Sispirosi Regional Councillor Babis Haralambos, Jenny Skembri from North Corfu Women's Association, Environmental Association President and Regional Councillor for the Anti-Capitalist Left Vera Koronaki and North Corfu Municipal Councillor Socrates Trifonas.
The last to speak was Mayor Meropi Ydraiou, who said that there was an "abundance of hypocrisy". She also referred to the past and talked about her time in the local authority when she had fought on the issue of land and town planning but had been "stoned' by others, as she put it. She made allegations about Yiannis Trepeklis' time as Mayor, when the environmental studies had been approved in three days and laid blame on previous local authorities which hadn't properly protected the area with land planning. "I don't like it when the cards are marked and there are crocodile tears to try and make a good impression on the public," Ms. Ydraiou said.
The two proposals
The proposal from the 8 opposition parties (Trepeklis, Kaloudis, Sarlis, Borbotis, Markatis, Dri, Neratzis and Karydis):
- The Council maintains its previous decisions and is completely against any privatisation, concreting and abuse of the bountiful natural resources in Erimitis.
- The withdrawal of Minister Adonis Giorgiades' legislative amendment which 'punishes' local authorities by overriding their responsibility.
- The Government and all the political parties declare Erimitis a protected area of bountiful natural resources and prohibit any kind of construction there, and that it be used as an ecological park for public use.
- The Municipality to challenge any administrative acts issued and to support the North Corfu Municipality in the continuation of the legal battle started by Corfu Municipality.
- MPs and the Regional Governor should accept their responsibilities.
The proposal from Mayor Meropi Ydraiou:
- Immediate land planning and town planning legislation.
- Respecting the autonomy of the North Corfu Municipality, allow it to make its decision and then to give support.
- We don't wish to compromise the local authority's rights and responsibilities - on the contrary, we request that authority and resources be reinstated in order to function in a way beneficial to the island.
The proposal from the 8 parties won by 24 votes against 15, with Spyros Poulis abstaining.
