Wrangle over running of Dasoudi park

By Constantinos Psillides

Limassol MPs and Yermasoyia mayor Andreas Gavrielides have urged the government to take responsibility for the Dasoudi park from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s hands and give it to the municipality.

During a discussion on the issue at the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday CTO director general Marios Hannides said his organisation has no qualms over this arrangement but pointed out that is not up to CTO. “This is purely a political decision. Our policy is to examine all such demands in the same manner,” said Hannides.

Committee MPs maintained that the Dasoudi park should be handed over to the local authority, which will push for “mild” development in the area to benefit both residents and tourists.

Dasoudi is a forested beach area in east Limasol. Both the CTO and the municipality have been criticised in the past over their inability to force some kind of regulation regarding camping, car parking and even garbage and waste dumping.

The municipality maintains that it cannot intervene since the area is under CTO control while the tourist organisation lacks the funding and ability to enforce regulations.

Committee deputy chairman, DISY MP Andreas Michaelides said Dasoudi park is the area’s “green lung” and that Limassol residents should be allowed to enjoy it.
“We want Dasoudi park to be preserved as a green space so people from Limassol continue to enjoy it. I personally welcome all effort made by various groups aiming in preserving the park,” said Michaelides.

Main opposition party AKEL also favours preserving the Dasoudi park, stressing that whoever ends up with the responsibility to manage it, “must always have in mind that the park’s protection is of the outmost importance.”

DIKO Limassol MP Andreas Votsis added that the only development allowed in the area should showcase the park’s beauty.

Votsis added that it’s unfair for the municipality to not be able to properly develop the area and that CTO has no reason to be involved into such a project.

The Yermasoyia mayor said the municipality has already put together an action plan for developing the area, that has already been presented to all competent authorities.

“All planned development is in accordance with legislation governing environmental protection,” noted Gavrielides.

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