South Corfu Natura Protection Association reports illegalities in Issos, Halikouna and Ai Giorgis

The South Corfu Natura Protection Association reported irregular or illegal business activities with a letter to the South Corfu Municipality, the Land Agency and the Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency:

Members and friends of our Association recently visited the beaches of Halikouna, Issos and Agios Georgios Argyrades. Private individuals have already started to operate on these beaches, all of which are located within Natura areas, to whom parts of the beaches have been granted by the Public Land Registry or the South Corfu Municipality for simple use.

Unfortunately, we found once again many violations and illegalities despite what the law expressly provides for - illegalities that are against the spirit of the circular that the Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Court sent to the country's Prosecutors regarding unhindered access to beaches.

The Land Registry is still renting to a private businessman an illegal permanent structure in Halikouna, which they call a mobile canteen.

In Issos, an area has been allocated for the operation of a noise-polluting leisure boat business (jet skis), which is not appropriate for a Natura area.

On the same beach, next to the beautiful formations made by the sand dunes, there is a structure of about 100 sq.m. which is used as a boat storage area!

In all the beaches of Halikouna, Issos and Agios Georgios, according to the notice of invitation to tender, only 30% of the allocated area may be covered, unlike beaches that are outside Natura areas where 60% of coverage is allowed, and the distance of the first row of sunbeds from the shoreline must be at least 5 metres, in order to ensure free access for bathers and for children to play. This means that in a 450 sq.m. area, 150 sq.m. are allowed to be covered, i.e. 30 sets of sunbeds and umbrellas instead of the 60 that can be placed on other beaches, bearing in mind that each set must occupy at least 5 sq.m.

The legislator did not set these restrictions by chance. They have set them so that the caretta caretta that visit our beaches every year to lay their eggs can also have access to them.

The Municipality is granting, the Land Registry is granting and the Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency approves based on a report sent to it from Corfu, without having a personal opinion on these areas. Who is checking the legality of these rentals in the end?

The Municipality, as far as we know, has assigned this task to two Deputy Mayors with zero results to date. We hope they will do a better job in the future.

A year and a half ago, our Association had placed two signs, one in Issos and one in Halikouna, which emphasised that the areas are protected and therefore need increased attention from both foreign and local visitors. The sign at Halikouna was destroyed by "unknown persons". Perhaps some people are offended by the restrictions imposed by law.

The President of our Association reported the incident to the Benitses Police Station, which did not evaluate it!

Concerned citizens are contacting our Association asking us to help so that our beaches are accessible to all. Not all of our beaches need to be full of sunbeds. This is what we demand from the authorities - strict adherence to the 30% coverage of the allocated areas and a free 5 metre area in front of the sea.

If you cannot carry out the necessary checks, stop making concessions of beaches and coastlines, which belong to everyone. Otherwise, we will take matters into our own hands by calling daily the law enforcement officers, hoping for their quick and effective response and we will raise the issue of misconduct for the Mayor, the two responsible Deputy Mayors and the Head of the Corfu Public Land Registry to the Corfu Prosecutor, the Decentralised Administration and the Ombudsman.

The Board President Leonidas Pagratis

The Secretary Lina Roussou

Photo: Apostolia Poesie / Facebook