Uncleared land: Despite strong warnings, not everyone has complied

Although last year's hefty fines for uncleared plots provided an incentive for some to carry out timely clean-ups and clearings this year before the commencement of the fire season on May 1st, it seems that not all property owners have taken up this obligation eagerly, at least for now.

Central Corfu Municipality, through its Civil Protection Department, is expected to issue a new announcement, in light of the deadline on April 30th, urging holders, residents, and caretakers of plots, agricultural land, and other uncovered areas (within settlements and zoning plans, within a distance of up to 100 metres from the settlement boundary, as well as areas with buildings outside settlements) to take the necessary actions to restrict and prevent the risk of fire.

Central Corfu Municipal Civil Protection Service supervisor, Yiannis Vassilakis, told Enimerosi that there is a major problem mainly in the Corfu district, although this does not mean that the issue of uncleared plots is not present elsewhere. "The Municipality has significant problems in the areas of Potamos, Viros, Perama, and Alepou," he said. "Mainly in the Corfu district, we have intense issues where people complain, but that doesn't mean we don't have them elsewhere. Simply, in the villages, there is a different mentality, and they comply on their own. However, we also have complaints from citizens in the rest of the Municipality."

Heavy penalties in 2023

The legal framework for the issue of uncleared plots after the passing of the relevant law is now stricter, as serious sanctions and heavy fines are provided for. Specifically, the Central Corfu Municipal Civil Protection Service, during the 2023 fire season, handled 250 applications from citizens concerning cases of uncleared private and municipal plots. The total uncleared area was approximately 800 stremma, for which 163 fine decisions were issued, with 110 objections filed against them. The total amount of fines amounted to €227,011.71. The fine for uncleared plots is €0.50 per square metre.

"However, there are still about 17 cases pending, and we might surpass €300,000 in fines for 2023," Mr. Vassilakis stated. "Some have already shown interest in paying them. Those that remain unpaid are certified to the Tax Office under the Tax Identification Number we have in the Land Register."

Deputy Mayor of Finance and Municipal Property, Fani Tsimpouli, told Enimerosi that at the moment, the competent Municipal Department is in the process of certifying the fines to the obligated parties, in order to collect the amounts corresponding to them, based on the square metres of their property.

Self-initiated clean-ups

Meanwhile, the relevant Municipal Services are already taking action for the required clean-ups of municipal plots. According to Mr. Vassilakis, when the deadline of April 30th for private individuals expires, interested parties will be able to submit applications to the Municipality for the clearing of neighbouring plots or buildings whose owners have neglected them. However, as he points out, this raises an issue of resources and means. "The Municipality, based on the legislation, autonomously proceeds with the clean-up, whether the owner is identified or not," he said. "However, there's an issue here with finding resources and means. We rent machines from private individuals. There's a contract, which might be finalised by the end of May, so until then, we won't be able to do anything. We have some machines in the Municipality, a chipper and a crawler.".

In this case, the relevant fine is imposed on the property owner first. If no action is taken within 10 days from the date the fine was notified (with the possibility of halving it), the Municipality takes up the clean-up autonomously, charging the owners with a fine.

The end of the self-initiated clean-up is not related to the fine imposed by law for uncleared plots. In fact, as fines are imposed without individual notification, the Civil Protection Department has already informed the media and social media through a press release (February 2024) about the obligation of property owners to take the required actions, while a reminder announcement is expected soon.

MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI

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