THERE HAS been an uproar among sports groups over the planned closure of the shooting range in Paphos’ Ayia Varvara, because of increasing safety concerns among the local community.
Paphos district officer Andreas Christodoulides said the range would remain operational as long as the association observes the laws and sticks to the obligations of the operating licence.
He said an incident involving pellets hitting a passing vehicle at the range, an unsealed road leading to the site and a lack of barriers around the shooting area, all left the venue incomplete and hazardous.
Anyone could walk across the line of fire at any moment he pointed out.
Christodoulides said some measures are not implemented at the site as they should be and that if an accident were to occur, it wouldn’t be the responsibly of the district office. He also noted that his offices had “helped as much as they could”.
He went onto say that the roof needs to be replaced and some of the installations removed, as they are not covered by stipulations in the licence.
Chrystodoulides said that all of these points had been raised with the association by the district office over a month ago, when they had also been warned that action against them could be taken.
Ayia Varvara mukhtar, Demetris Aristocleous said gun-lovers should look for an alternative area, adding that there is a house within only 300 metres of the shooting range.
He added that the range is breaking the law and their licence obligations, adding the club is open every day to the general public and not just to members only as permitted.
The range, which has turned out numerous champion shooters such as Giorgos Achilleous and Giorgos Tsakelis, both skeet champions, has been leased from the state by Cyprus Sports Federation (KOA) for the past 66 years.
KOA members, officials of the Paphos Shooting Association (PSA), as well as the shooting federation, along with hunters, sportsmen and supporters have now joined forces to try and prevent the municipality’s attempts to close the shooting range.
KOA’s general manager Costas Papacostas, said the closure was a crying shame while his organisation is fighting “tooth and nail” to try and keep youngsters away from drugs, crime and other dangerous activities, by encouraging them to take part in athletics. He said the range attracts many youngsters
Meanwhile, President of the Cyprus Shooting Federation (KOS) Demetris Lordos spoke out against the mukhtar and the Agia Varvara council, saying their actions showed their opposition to the PSA and KOA.
He underlined that instead of fighting the gun club members, the Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis should sit down with them and find ways in which they can all work together for the benefit of the area, athletics and sports tourism.
