Lady’s Mile Beach on Cyprus’ Akrotiri peninsula is facing increasing pressure from commercial development and a disregard for environmental regulations.
Environmental organisations such as Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus are sounding the alarm over the development at Lady’s Mile. They allege that beach bars and other commercial establishments are operating outside the law, with loud music, bonfires, and water sports disrupting the ecosystem.
The organisations claim that the British Bases Administration, which oversees the area, is failing to enforce existing regulations.
At the heart of the dispute is the balance between environmental protection and economic development.
Environmentalists argue that the commercialisation of the beach is threatening its ecological value, particularly for marine turtles and birdlife. They point to the increasing number of sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports activities and the inundation of the Akrotiri wetland with large amounts of freshwater, as evidence of the growing pressure on the area.
The development on Lady’s Mile is “out of control,” Koulla Michael, Executive Director of Terra Cypria told Phileleftheros. “There has been a cumulative increase in activities and uses on the beach,” she added.
According to the legislation, sunbeds and umbrellas should be removed from the beach during the evening hours (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the following day) to ensure that the beach remains unobstructed for the undisturbed nesting activities of marine turtles. “Parties held on the beach by all the establishments in the area must stop immediately. They cause significant noise, feature lighting installations, and result in trampling, hindering the ecological processes of the beach,” Michael said.
“In an upcoming meeting, which has not yet been scheduled, we will be seeking answers from the British Bases Administration regarding their reasons for not enforcing their own legislation. It’s quite straightforward,” Michael stressed.
She also questioned the renewal of licenses granted to businesses, given the presence of bulky sunbeds and umbrellas that cannot be easily moved. She mentions their attempt to create video footage for awareness-raising and conservation purposes as an example.
“To illustrate the double standards applied, let me tell you that the British Bases Administration enforces strict measures for photography and video recording requests in the wider area, in stark contrast to their inaction regarding what’s happening on Lady’s Mile Beach. Ironically, they require letters and compliance with stringent measures for a couple of photos, yet they turn a blind eye to the destruction of the beach right before their eyes,” she said.
SBA defends actions
The British Bases Administration has defended its actions, stating that “environmental protection is a priority” and that it is closely monitoring the situation.
“To support both security efforts and environmental conservation efforts at Lady’s Mile, a dedicated team comprising members of the SBA Police, Customs and Immigration, and Provincial Administration, along with the SBA Environment Department, continues to closely monitor the activities at Lady’s Mile. Those who act outside the law risk facing consequences, including prosecution, when necessary,” the Bases administration told Phileleftheros.
Critics want to harm our businesses, entrepreneurs say
Local businesses, on the other hand, have rejected the accusations, arguing that they are operating within the law and providing services that meet customer demand. They claim that the criticism is motivated by a desire to harm their businesses.
Phileleftheros contacted Filios Demetriades, a local businessman, to hear his take on the allegations.
“We, the restaurateurs, have been trying to upgrade the area in recent years by offering services available at other beaches. The Bases enforce stricter legislation and do not permit parties and music on the beach, only allowing them within designated premises. All these allegations are exaggerated,” Demetriades said.
Regarding the complaints about bulky sunbeds and umbrellas, which should be removed in the evening, Demetriades sarcastically asked, “Are they bothered by the pollution from the SBA aircraft and the antennas emitting radioactive signals, but not by the sunbeds?”
He argued that “any development in certain areas is automatically deemed environmentally damaging, which is not always the case.”
He suggested that there are ulterior motives behind the complaints and reactions, aiming to harm their businesses and the reputation of Lady’s Mile Beach.
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