Foreign tycoon demolishes illegal constructions on beach under threat of sanctions.
CORFU. Following a deluge of complaints and confirmed fines, the case reached the courtroom.
As early as 2010 and 2012, the Port Authority and the State Property Department confirmed the violations and imposed large fines. However, taking advantage of the inertia that characterises the administrative and political mechanism, the foreign national continued undeterred to buy up the sea, preventing people from using the beach in all kinds of ways, even though the law explicitly states that the shores and beaches are public property.
Despite this, the countless examples of infringements in Corfu and throughout the country provide the best excuse for anyone who wants to close off access to the beach. The hundreds who died in the fire in Mati in 2018 were the tragic confirmation of the regime of lawlessness.
One of the illegal constructions by the sea in 2011
Demolition protocols
As the confirmed reports of violation indicate, the owner proceeded with works that altered the beach, including rocks, stone constructions, buildings in the sea and in the beach zone, permanent wooden platforms, paving and even a cement pier with electrical installations.
The administrative measures provided for by the law were issued against him, such as a protocol for administrative expulsion, compensation for arbitrary use and demolition, which was sent to the Decentralised Administration of Western Greece, Peloponnese and Ionian Islands, which was responsible for its execution. However, the demolition protocols from the State Property Department in 2011 and 2013 "were not approved," according to a document from the Decentralised Administration.
The beach before and after the demolition of the platform
Court
Thirteen years after the first certificate of beach encroachment was issued, the case reached the courtroom. Just a few hours before the trial, the rapid removal of the illegal structures began. Stone structures in the sea and two platforms disappeared, and the coastline now (almost) resembles its previous state. The hearing scheduled for Thursday was postponed.
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