Illegal businesses on Pervolia beach demolished

Two illegal businesses on Faros beach at Pervolia were demolished by Larnaca’s district office on Wednesday, amid a police presence.

A tractor and team from the city’s district office were at the site between 7:30am till midday, as the two makeshift kiosks were dismantled and demolished.

Larnaca’s district officer Odysseas Hadjistephanou told the Cyprus Mail they were aware of a slew of complaints from the environment department and had heard the environment commissioner herself state publicly there were illegal businesses operating on the seafront.

Upon investigation, three shops were found to be operating illegally, using generators to power their businesses.

In one instance, there is an ongoing court case. For the other two, a notice was placed a few days earlier informing them they were working illegally and would be demolished, Hadjistephanou said.

Nonetheless, Marios Gerolemou from the Dromolaxias-Meneou municipality said the shop owners have been in place for 38 years in one case and 15 years for another.

They had contracts with what was formerly the Pervolia community council to offer beach beds and umbrellas, he explained.

The shop owners then made a makeshift kiosk offering drinks and food which the council found to be illegal.

Gerolemou told the Cyprus Mail the council had moved to try and legalise the makeshift additions through the land registry but the process had taken too long.

They had also asked for an extension of about another month so beachgoers could enjoy their time at the beach, he added.

Hadjistephanou nonetheless said that because it was a beach site, it requires cabinet approval.

As such, without fulfilling the legal requirements, they had to be demolished, he said.