For over a year, the Department of Environment has requested action from the Municipality of Ayia Napa regarding illegal activities on a property named “The Cupule,” operating as an events venue in Cape Greco.
This property, a residence, was built before the area was designated as a protected zone and has since changed its use without the necessary permits.
Following the construction of an illegal monastery by the Bishopric of Constantia and Ammochostos on a piece of church-owned land within the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network Special Conservation Area (SCA) and Special Protection Area (SPA) of Cape Greco, the issue of the events venue was raised again.
In close proximity to the boundaries of the church-owned plot for the monastery, there is another plot also situated in a Protection Urban Zone Da1.
However, it does not fall within but borders on the boundaries of the protected areas SCA and SPA of Cape Greco, as well as the Cape Greco National Forest Park (NFP).
On this particular plot, there are two residences built long before the designation of the protected area and possessing urban planning permits and construction licenses.
One of the residences has been converted into an events venue named “The Cupule,” without securing any permits other than a limited wedding license issued by the Municipality of Ayia Napa.
After a complaint was received by the Department of Environment on 7/4/2023 regarding disturbance, a referral was made to the competent authority for noise and illegal operation issues of the events venue, which in this case is the Municipality of Ayia Napa.
For this specific issue, the Commissioner for the Environment was informed with a relevant letter, and both the Forestry Department and the Wildlife and Game Service, as well as the Land Registry and Surveying Department, the Town Planning and Housing Department, and the District Administration of Ammochostos, are aware.
Complaints regarding the issue were also made to the former Commissioner for the Environment and current Minister for the Environment, Maria Panayiotou.
In a letter from the Department of Environment to the Commissioner for the Environment dated 7/12/2023, reference is made to the actions taken by the Department of Environment. Furthermore, it was stated that due to the proximity to the protected area, the Department of Environment will further investigate the issue to determine any impact on the protected objects (species and habitat types) of the area and any other violation of environmental legislation.
It should be noted that the inauguration of the events venue took place on 21/4/2017 by the then Mayor of Ayia Napa, Yiannis Karousos.
