Residents and local authorities from the Dhekelia cluster of communities staged a protest outside the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) on Saturday, expressing “intense concern and indignation” over a decade of stalled development projects.
The protest, organised by the Dhekelia Community Services Cluster Council, focused on two primary grievances: the long-delayed revision of urban planning zones and the stalled expansion of the Xylofagou quarrying zone. Protesters handed over a memorandum to SBA officials, warning that their patience has been exhausted.
The Council highlighted that residents have been waiting since 2022 for the publication of the revised Policy Statement. The delay has left property owners in a state of limbo, unable to plan for the future or develop their land. The memorandum noted that residents are often forced to apply for permits from two different authorities, creating bureaucratic hurdles that treat them like “second-class citizens.”
Quarry Crisis
A critical point of contention is the expansion of the Xylofagou quarry zone, a request that has remained pending since 2018. The Council warned that:
- Resource Depletion: Existing quarry reserves are nearly exhausted.
- Economic Impact: Stagnation threatens to close local quarries, leading to mass unemployment.
- Rising Costs: The lack of local materials is driving up construction costs for public and private projects in the Larnaca and Famagusta districts.
Demands for Action
The memorandum outlines several urgent requirements:
- Immediate Decisions: Clear and binding rulings on planning and quarrying zones.
- Fair Policy: A balanced urban planning approach that respects residents’ development rights.
- Economic Security: Resolution of the quarrying issue to safeguard local jobs and the construction sector.
In response to the demonstration, a British Bases spokesperson stated that the administration respects the right to peaceful protest and is working with the Cyprus government, noting that the final non-military development zones are expected to be published in the spring of 2026. However, the local communities have warned that they will escalate their actions if their demands continue to be met with “indifference.”