‘RICCOS’ beach in Yeroskipou will have its famous café torn down on November 15, if a last minute licence isn’t received by the Council of Ministers.
Earlier this year ‘Mr Ricco’, Andreas Xenofontos, fought a demolition order by forming a human chain with many of his supporters around the beach café to prevent bulldozers from flattening the lot.
Yeroskipou council bowed to pressure and agreed Riccos could remain open for the summer season. Hundreds of locals and tourists rushed to lend their support to the campaign to keep the popular Paphos landmark open.
The municipality is planning a vast upgrade of the whole area, which will take place in two stages, and cost a total of €10 million.
Xenofontos established Riccos beach café 34 years ago. A favourite with both locals and tourists, the beach side establishment has grown in size over the years.
“I’ve been here on the beach in Yeroskipou since 1974, and apparently it’s considered to be illegal,” said Xenofontos.
“I signed an agreement with the mayor, Tassos Kousapos, to say they could take the original small kiosk away, but the rest of the things will remain as they are, because they’re mine.”
According to Xenofontos the municipal council gave him permission about 13 years ago to operate showers and a kiosk. He said he does not know why they didn’t arrange a licence.
“I paid out money, and then the CTO came and asked me why I didn’t have a licence. Originally this was a small kiosk, but it’s grown over the years. When they remove the kiosk, I will just replace it with one of my own. Riccos will carry on,” he promised.
No, it won’t, according to the secretary general of Yeroskipou municipality, Nicos Lupidis.
“We allowed Mr Xenofontos to work this summer, but in November we will demolish the whole lot. Everything must go; of course the trees will remain,” Lupidis insisted.
The whole of the seafront area and beach was declared a no building zone some time ago. The order included Riccos. Only a permit granted by the Council of Ministers could save it as it has the authority to make exceptions and over-rule restrictions, enabling the local authority to issue a licence.
“As regards Riccos café, by mutual agreement of Andreas Xenofontos, the District Office of Paphos, and the Municipality of Yeroskipou, it was agreed that the structure would be demolished on November 15 2008.The municipality obtained a court order a few years ago to tear down the café, and now we will use it to enforce the law. After talks with Andreas, we let him open for this summer, before demolishing it in November,” said Lupidis.
The first stage of the ambitious beachside improvement plan will cost €5 million and consist of improvements to the beach and the building of 10 breakwaters built into the sea. This part of the project will take at least a year. The second phase, which is still being planned, will continue with further breakwaters and a small marina created at the mouth of the Ezousa River. This will be able to berth about 50 small boats and fishing vessels.
“The idea is to enhance the whole area, as it’s so popular,” said Lupidis. “A few days, ago the Paphos chamber of commerce came here to discuss the project, which is just one of many the municipality of Yeroskipou is implementing.”
And is there any way they would reconsider allowing Riccos café to remain as it is?
“As a municipality we think we will need a kiosk,” said Lupidis. “There are thousands of visitors made up of locals and tourists to the beach every year, and they need refreshments. But the structure there is illegal.”
Xenofontos has applied to the Council of Ministers for permission to operate on numerous occasions, and each time he has been rejected.
“But the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers are different this time,” conceded Lupidis. “So no-one can really predict the outcome.”
Even so, time is running out for any last-minute, permanent stay of execution.
