Society for the Protection of Vidos asks for free access for all to Vidos Island
Vidos
13 May 2021
/ 11:54
CORFU. Tenders have not yet been invited for the Municipal shuttle service - Again no summer camp this year
Representatives of the Society for the Protection and Promotion of Vidos met with Spyros Neratzis, the Municipal Councillor responsible for Vidos, on Friday 7 May to discuss the situation regarding the small island and local authority plans.
Following the meeting, the Society issued the following statement:
"Unfortunately, the information we already had was confirmed:
1. Tenders have not yet been invited for the municipal shuttle service and, according to the municipality, it will not operate until the end of June at the earliest.
2. The municipality still owes money for the maintenance of the shuttle boat and more maintenance is required this year. Last year's skipper has also not been paid.
3. The summer camp has not yet been licensed and Mr. Neratzis says that it will again not operate this year as last year's work has still not been completed.
4. Vidos Island has not received a fire safety certificate and there has been no clean-up work, cutting and pruning of trees and general preparation for the summer season.
5. The municipality knows that Ikos, which has taken control of the restaurant on the islands, plans to open but doesn't know what is happening about the company's trespass on the land next to the jetty. We were told that there have been meetings with company but they weren't invited.
We expressed our Society's concerns and the protests from members of the public, who are eagerly waiting for access to be made available to the island.
Access to the island, which is the key factor for Vidos not become a private island, is the biggest problem and the main responsibility lies with the local authority. The invitation for tenders should have gone out in December so that whoever won the contract had time to make proper preparations to ensure that the best possible services were made available to the public. The delays mean that only those with a private boat have access to the island - whether they be private individuals or customers of Ikos, which has its own boat.
The non-availability of the community summer camp for yet another year leads to greater deterioration in the facilities and a reduction in visits to the island. The island is being deprived of those who can keep a continuous eye on the situation - the campers and visitors.
The delay in completing the fire safety and clean-up work, at a time when Central Corfu Municipality has over 200 available temporary contracted employees, is putting the island in danger.
The money the municipality owes for the maintenance of the shuttle boat is an offence to the public and creates problems for its future operation.
We are afraid that the municipality's indifference may lead to the gradual isolation of Vidos Island from visitors. Swimmers, walkers, scouts and guides, Serbian visitors and all of those who 'disturb' the few visitors to the restaurant on a 'private island'.
We ask the Mayor and the Municipal Council to take immediate measures and make Vidos accessible for all!
Our response to the situation is that we ALL go to Vidos. We enjoy it, we let our children and their friends enjoy it, we recommend it to visitors and we don't allow it to become an island for just the few!"
Yiannis Kourkoulos - President
Giorgos Raidestinos - Secretary
Following the meeting, the Society issued the following statement:
"Unfortunately, the information we already had was confirmed:
1. Tenders have not yet been invited for the municipal shuttle service and, according to the municipality, it will not operate until the end of June at the earliest.
2. The municipality still owes money for the maintenance of the shuttle boat and more maintenance is required this year. Last year's skipper has also not been paid.
3. The summer camp has not yet been licensed and Mr. Neratzis says that it will again not operate this year as last year's work has still not been completed.
4. Vidos Island has not received a fire safety certificate and there has been no clean-up work, cutting and pruning of trees and general preparation for the summer season.
5. The municipality knows that Ikos, which has taken control of the restaurant on the islands, plans to open but doesn't know what is happening about the company's trespass on the land next to the jetty. We were told that there have been meetings with company but they weren't invited.
We expressed our Society's concerns and the protests from members of the public, who are eagerly waiting for access to be made available to the island.
Access to the island, which is the key factor for Vidos not become a private island, is the biggest problem and the main responsibility lies with the local authority. The invitation for tenders should have gone out in December so that whoever won the contract had time to make proper preparations to ensure that the best possible services were made available to the public. The delays mean that only those with a private boat have access to the island - whether they be private individuals or customers of Ikos, which has its own boat.
The non-availability of the community summer camp for yet another year leads to greater deterioration in the facilities and a reduction in visits to the island. The island is being deprived of those who can keep a continuous eye on the situation - the campers and visitors.
The delay in completing the fire safety and clean-up work, at a time when Central Corfu Municipality has over 200 available temporary contracted employees, is putting the island in danger.
The money the municipality owes for the maintenance of the shuttle boat is an offence to the public and creates problems for its future operation.
We are afraid that the municipality's indifference may lead to the gradual isolation of Vidos Island from visitors. Swimmers, walkers, scouts and guides, Serbian visitors and all of those who 'disturb' the few visitors to the restaurant on a 'private island'.
We ask the Mayor and the Municipal Council to take immediate measures and make Vidos accessible for all!
Our response to the situation is that we ALL go to Vidos. We enjoy it, we let our children and their friends enjoy it, we recommend it to visitors and we don't allow it to become an island for just the few!"
Yiannis Kourkoulos - President
Giorgos Raidestinos - Secretary
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