Peyia Mayor says ‘no’ to dump

(By Bejay Browne- Cyprus Mail)


THE MAYOR of Peyia is refusing to allow a new non-organic dump to be sited in his Municipality.Mayor Neophytos Akourshiotis is opposing the government proposed site, claiming it would be a disaster for the community.The new dump would be a place for building materials, rubble and the like to be deposited. Akourshiotis claims the weight and flow of traffic to and from the facility would have a negative effect on Peyia, and would spoil “an area of outstanding beauty”.“The stain on the environment would be catastrophic,” he added.


Fellow Peyia councillor Linda Leblanc has a more measured approach, noting all the facts need to be collected first.She told the Cyprus Mail:

‘It’s true the site would be for non-organic materials such as building rubble. In Europe there are some requirements to recycle these type of materials; unfortunately facilities for this are not yet in place in Cyprus.”Leblanc continued, “European policy seems to lean toward using old quarry sites, as in our case. This one is on the road heading towards Akoursos.”

She stressed: “I think the important thing here is too look at the bigger picture. This spot has been designated for this purpose by the central government, and so I believe there has to have been an environmental impact study. The Mayor is denying this, and I don’t know either way for certain.”“I do have mixed feelings about this project, but it needs to be put somewhere,” she added.“I think it’s gross hypocrisy on the part of Peyia, who have been filling dry riverbeds and gorges for years. They then built structures on top of this rubble. What happens if there is a flood or an earthquake,” she questioned. “It’s better to have a legal site. People in Peyia are used to dumping everywhere.“It’s really a case of, ‘not in my back yard’.”
In October 2006, torrential rainfall caused severe flooding in Paphos, destroying many homes and closing a hotel in Peyia. Two people lost their lives as they were swept away in a car by a torrent of water, which had built up in a dry riverbed, clogged with rubbish.Leblanc commented, “I think it makes sense to put this waste in the site of an old quarry. I was recently in England and visited an abandoned quarry, which had been filled in this way; it’s now a beautiful park. This process renews a site, it fills a scar on the landscape, and afterwards may be planted with trees, shrubs and plants.“I really think it’s up to the government now, they were the ones who designated this area. Peyia Municipality has taken the line to fight it, and I think we must wait to see how heavily the government will come down on Peyia.”This type of waste was previously being taken to a site in Marathounda.“The dump in Marathounda is now closed, as it is full, and in addition, doesn’t meet the legal requirements.“Everyone must take responsibility for their rubbish, there is more and more in Cyprus. As buildings go up daily, there is more garbage from construction.“I would like to see a proper impact assessment, but I don’t think the request for a site in Peyia is an unreasonable one. “It’s better to have a legal dump, which will be strictly operated, rather than dumping willy nilly across the countryside,” she concluded.