Communities of the Akamas peninsula sent out a signal of despair warning of gradual abandonment due to their ageing population and called for an end to the “injustice” done to them by depriving them of the use of their properties.
On the occasion of the World Town Planning Day marked on November 8, the Community Action for Akamas a group set up in 2019 by Neo Chorio, Droushia, Inia, Pano Arodes, Kato Arodes, Androlykou and Polis Chrysochous, said their current reality was “bleak”, as they remain socially and economically excluded.
They welcomed the government decision to carry out infrastructure works in their villages for upgrading urban planning, but argued that the projects that have been implemented so far, have not brought to their communities the desired revitalisation to reverse their downward course and improve the quality of life of the area residents.
“It is impossible to achieve economic development especially for remote communities, by only repairing roads and residential facades,” said Neo Chorio community leader Andreas Christodoulou Mahimos. “Without their connection with coastal development and / or with some great development, which will create jobs, abandonment will still be the main issue.”
The standing demand of these communities has been their inclusion to the local masterplan allowing mild sustainable development in areas where, the coefficient was “unjustly” decided to be zero 30 years ago.
They said their only hope was the local plan which is still under preparation. Citing promises by the authorities, they said it would be ready in the spring of 2021.
“We hope that the spring of 2021 will finally bring ‘spring’ for the Akamas communities,” Christodoulou said, warning they would not tolerate any other delay.
Inia community leader, Yiangos Tsivikos, pointed out that the villages of Akamas risk of being deserted due to the tendency of locals to move to urban areas.
“A large part of the population and especially the young people have left the area, looking for jobs in the big urban centres. As a result, the remaining population consists mainly of the elderly,” Tsivikos said. “Unless radical changes take place, the desolation of the villages of Akamas will be irreversible,” he said.
For decades, communities in the Akamas peninsula and Polis Chrysochous whose areas fall within the Natura 2000 network have been pushing for more development, arguing that due to strict town planning regulations, they have been unable to utilise their properties, citing also breach of their human rights.
