Akrotiri, Cyprus. Kourion mayor Pantelis Georgiou on Thursday accused the British bases administration of misleading his municipality over the placement of communications antennae in the Akrotiri base area. He said the municipality had been given information that differed significantly from the plans now presented.
Claims over revised installation plans
Georgiou told Politis radio that the municipality had initially been informed that 20 new antennae would be installed and 18 removed. He said that two weeks ago the municipality was told that 68 antennae would be installed in the first phase and another 68 in the second phase.
He added that the bases’ administration also intends to construct two new buildings and expand another building before beginning a third phase involving between 31 and 34 additional communications antennae.
Concerns over health and safety
Georgiou said the plans would strongly militarise the wider Akrotiri area and create two serious issues. He said one issue concerns public health, citing the large number of towers planned and saying the repercussions for public health would not be negligible.
He also said the additional military infrastructure would create a public safety issue, adding that the base would be seen as two military targets.
Request for documents and data
Georgiou said documents requested by the municipality showed that the project had been planned and was known within the British army since at least last year. He said the municipality had not been informed because, in his view, the administration did not want a reaction to the plans.
On the possible impact of the new antennae on public health, he said the municipality is trying to understand the technology involved. He said data on radiation emissions had been requested and that the municipality had decided to provide the information to a researcher to conduct a study on the effects on public health.
He added that measurements are being made in the area.