The plans of the British Bases to install new antennas in the Merra area of Akrotiri came under scrutiny before the Parliamentary Environment Committee, with concerns raised over their potential impact on the environment and public health.
During the discussion, MPs and local representatives raised questions about the scale of the project. According to information presented to the committee, around 68 antennas could be installed in the first phase, followed by another 68 in a second phase. A third phase involving more than 30 additional antennas has also not been ruled out.
MPs call for greater transparency
DISY MP Michalis Kounounis said the issue was of particular concern to residents of Limassol, noting that different figures had previously been given regarding the scale of the project.
Fellow DISY MP Giorgos Karaiskakis stressed the need for the local community to receive full information about the plans, describing residents’ concerns as understandable and calling for greater clarity from the British Bases.
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou referred to the presence of the British Bases as a legacy of colonial rule and also raised questions over the differing figures presented for the number of planned antennas.
DIKO leader and MP Nikolas Papadopoulos linked the issue to both environmental and health concerns, as well as the wider question of the status of the British Bases in Cyprus.
ALMA MP Michalis Paraskevas questioned the legal status of the Bases, arguing that they do not constitute a state and calling on the Foreign Ministry to discuss the matter with the British side.
Direct Democracy MP Giannis Laouris focused on potential health impacts on residents and expressed concern over the apparent increase in the number of antennas.
Foreign Ministry seeks information from Bases
Foreign Ministry Director General Theodora Constantinidou said problems affecting residents of the area remain high on the agenda of the Foreign Minister’s discussions with the British side.
She said issues concerning the Bases had already been raised with the relevant British authorities and that the ministry was seeking to establish a formal and systematic dialogue with the UK to address such matters.
According to Constantinidou, a meeting had already taken place at the Foreign Ministry, while the British Bases had been asked to provide all available information on the project so that the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus could carry out the necessary studies.
She added that the new antennas had not yet been installed because dialogue on the issue remains ongoing.
Constantinidou stressed that the government attaches the highest importance to matters of safety and health, adding that the ministry’s actions and contacts were being communicated to local authorities in the affected areas.
Health concerns raised
Ioanna Gregoriou, representing the Ministry of Health, said previous studies had indicated increased cancer cases in the area.
The comments came as MPs and local representatives raised broader concerns about the possible health implications of the planned infrastructure.
Akrotiri residents voice opposition
The Deputy Mayor of Akrotiri described the pressure he said the local community had faced for years because of military installations in the area.
He said the community was surrounded by existing antennas and expressed opposition to the installation of additional infrastructure.
He also claimed that dozens of birds are killed after becoming caught on wires at existing installations.
The Deputy Mayor further referred to an expropriation order that, according to him, was served on August 3 for the occupation of the area. He said the British Bases later informed residents in writing that they would not proceed with new installations until studies had been carried out.
Environmental groups call for independent studies
A representative of Terra Cypria highlighted the ecological importance of Akrotiri, describing it as one of Cyprus’ most important areas from an environmental perspective.
The Akrotiri Ora Miden campaign called for any studies on the potential impacts of the project to be carried out by independent experts from outside the British Bases. The group said it would not accept studies conducted by the British side.
The Akrotiri Residents’ Coordinating Committee also expressed strong opposition to the installation of new antennas, citing concerns over their impact on residents’ daily lives and property.
The committee said residents were unable to make full use of their properties and described the situation as feeling like being displaced from their own homes.
Also read: Akrotiri: Environmental groups call for full assessment before new antennas are installed
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