Dhekelia, Cyprus. Dhekelia community council held a protest on Saturday outside the Dhekelia base police station, calling for urgent action on pending urban planning zones and the expansion of the Xylofagou quarry within the British Bases.
Calls for planning changes and quarry expansion
In a statement issued to the base police chief, the council said residents should not be required to apply for planning permits from two different bodies, citing delays and added difficulties.
The council said residents have been waiting since 2022 for the revised policy statement to be published, while the request to expand the Xylofagou quarry has been pending since 2018. It said that despite professionalism from those involved, there has been no substantial response from the British bases.
Concerns over costs, jobs and local activity
The council warned that stagnant processes and exhausted quarry reserves have increased building material costs, threatened jobs and stalled local economic activity.
Sotiris Kekkouris, the Dhekelia community president, said the protest sought the immediate and substantive examination of the council’s requests through dialogue and respect for local communities and their needs.
Memorandum forwarded to British Bases and British high commission
The memorandum was handed to Maria Kyriakidou for forwarding to the leadership of the British bases and the British high commission.
Earlier protests by quarry operators and fishermen
The protest followed demonstrations on Monday by quarry operators and local fishermen. Quarry operators blocked the Dhekelia firing range to protest delays in processing expansion applications, citing a hiatus since 2018 that has left insufficient materials for construction and directly affected dozens of families and workers.
Fishermen also protested at the Xylofagou shelter, saying military exercises have reduced fish stocks and restricted access to their usual fishing grounds.
How do planning delays within the British Bases affect residents and workers in nearby communities?
