Officials say they have dealt with most of them but residents disagree

A flood of claims of illegal activities at Faros beach in Pervolia prompted the recently appointed regional mayor to say in December that these activities have turned the area into an environmental disaster in the last three years.

The allegations include illegal beach-bars, unsafe water park inflatables, installed lighting threatening hatching sea turtles heading to the sea and the transfer of beach stones and pebbles.

“Complaints and allegations concern the illegal movement, by several competent bodies, of pebbles, from Faros beach and also the illegal operation of premises,” mayor of Dromolaxia-Meneou, which includes Pervolia, Kypros Andronikou said.

Asked about the illegal premises on the site, officials said that legal measures have been taken after a court decision by both the Larnaca provincial administration and the deputy ministry of tourism.

Debris on the beach

An inspection by police in July unveiled a series of violations including the mechanical transfer and stacking of stones to the eastern side of the beach without the environment department’s permission.

“This alteration aimed to create a sandy beach but raised environmental concerns,” a statement released last summer by the environment commissioner’s office said.

Two illegal businesses on the beach were demolished by Larnaca’s district office in August. Investigations had shown that three venues were operating illegally, using generators to power their businesses.

A complaint related to the case said that, despite all suggestions sent to the Dromolaxia-Meneou municipality and the Larnaca district administration, no action has been taken to restore the cleanliness of the beach caused by the illegal building.

Regarding the infrastructure for the water park, the secretary of the national beaches committee Hara Georgiadou told the Cyprus Mail that they must further investigate the complaints about the infrastructure and operation of water-park inflatables at the beach since permission had been granted for its installation and as far as she was aware it was not dangerous and they made sure of its safety in advance.

Debris on the beach from the ‘water park’

However, according to a complaint sent by environmentalist Marios Antoniou, a part of the water park flew away in strong winds and was washed ashore, polluting the beach.

Antoniou added that there is a high accident risk while the concrete mooring of the inflatables is a short distance from the sea surface.

“No research has been made for its location instalment with the initial location being elsewhere and being changed due interventions,” Antoniou said.

Georgiadou said that beach inspections are difficult to operate due to the legislative framework which does not make it easy to check illegal activities.

The Cyprus Mail also talked to Makis Gerolemou, the municipal beach manager, who said he was not aware that the inflatables were dangerous, and permission was granted by all official members involved.

But residents of the Faros area have complained to the Cyprus Mail saying they aren’t satisfied with action taken by the local authorities, describing the ongoing situation as an environmental disaster for the greenery of the area.

“The Larnaca municipality and the department for town planning and housing want to build a car park, changing rooms, toilets and a road leading to the beach right outside of our houses,” said John Ioanou a local resident. “This will disturb the residents of the area creating unwanted noises and pollution near our houses. We came here to relax and enjoy nature, and we won’t be able to do so.”

The washed-up inflatable from the Faros beach ‘water park’

He said these actions will also endanger turtles who lay their eggs nearby, adding that he has found dead turtles on the beach.

“They also want to build a boat ramp right on top of the place turtles lay their eggs, ignoring the environmental law,” said Andreas Antoniadi, another resident along Faros beach.

Both residents have complained to the community council with no results while they also contacted the police.

A letter in December sent by the district administration to the Fisheries and Marine Research Department director Marina Argyrou said an illegal construction on Faros beach – a turtle nesting area – has its lights on and turned towards the sea throughout the night, which is interfering with the sense of direction of hatchlings scuttling to the sea.

It calls on the department to take immediate action to make sure the lights are switched off and attaches a letter sent to the community in 2023, one of many sent since 2022.

“All the problems related to this specific beach, will be discussed with the competent officials of the municipality and the central agency for the beaches. Our goal is to create good conditions in the area, to attract both local and foreign visitors,” said Andronikou.