Submission of a Bill Proposal in the wake of concerns about the government’s Akamas Local Plan under preparation.

 

Statement by AKEL MP Aristos Damianou and Chairman of the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee after its session

30 June 2022

During today’s session of the Parliamentary Internal Affairs Committee, among other issues, we discussed the joint Bill Proposal prepared and submitted by AKEL and Mr. Theopeptou on behalf of the Ecologists’ Movement, concerning the Town Planning and Spatial Planning Law.

The purpose of the Bill Proposal is to prohibit the issuance of planning permission in areas where a Local Plan or Area Plan is being prepared or amended during the period of submission of written reasoned objections to the Minister of Interior and during the period of their examination.

The reason for tabling the Bill is to avoid planning arbitrariness and environmental damage during the very period when objections around a Local Plan are being considered.

Asked by a reporter whether the submission of this particular Bill Proposal is intended to “prevent” developments in the Akamas peninsula, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee replied that the preparation of the Bill and its discussion is being done precisely in the wake of concerns that have been expressed about the Akamas Local Plan under preparation. For sure, the Bill Proposal will address and concern other similar cases too.

The AKEL-Ecologists joint Bill Proposal was discussed today for the first time before relevant authorities. There were comments made from the Planning Department and the Legal Department, who as expected disagreed with the purpose of the Bill Proposal. The next steps to be taken will be decided among the presenters.