Local fishermen and residents of Liopetri expressed anger over new delays in the construction of the fishing shelter and on the local river.
They have issued warnings of potential protests, urging the Ministry of Agriculture to visit the site.
Work on the significant project, with an estimated cost of €11 million, commenced in September 2020 and was initially set to be completed by March 2023. Delays were encountered along the way, primarily due to the discovery of archaeological artifacts.
As a result, the project’s completion date was extended to November 30, 2023. However, it appears increasingly unlikely that the new deadline will be met, according to Vassos Manolis, the community leader of Liopetri.
Manolis sent a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, requesting his presence at the site to witness the stagnant progress of the project and to be informed about the substantial impact on local fishermen and restaurant owners.
“The project was supposed to be finished, and they’ve given it a new extension until April 2024. We’ve heard rumours that it might be extended further until October. However, what we see is that the work is progressing at a very slow pace, and regardless of how many extensions are granted, the project won’t be completed soon,” Mr. Manolis stated.
He emphasised the growing frustration among those affected, as the ongoing construction chaos has left a local restaurant closed for a year.
The project is co-funded at 75% by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020.
The planned works for the area include the construction of wooden quays, boat ramps, boat lifts, a slipway, and storage areas for professional fishermen.
