Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

My visiting Eastbourne friends visited Mare Monte beach last week, a place they have enjoyed for several years. I had warned them about the piles of rocks blocking the track, but they were not prepared to find the beach crowded, mainly with Russians, apparently from the Merit!! There were no 'beds' or parasols available, and they had to wait sometime before beds were vacated. Does anyone know what the position is now, regarding this so-called 'public beach'?

I am astounded that despite 286 people reading this posting, not one has made a comment or suggestion. Is there an embargo regarding Mare Monte PUBLIC BEACH?

The Dog Walker wrote:...Is there an embargo regarding Mare Monte PUBLIC BEACH?

Apparently not! - the dearth of comments may be due to the paucity of knowledge...

In the absence of any better-informed comment: - I believe that Alsancak Belediyesi and the Merit Group are involved in a legal wrangle of some sort over the use of the beach, and I seem to remember reading that the TRNC Government had applied pressure on the 'Controlling Authority' (Vakif?) to grant the Merit Group a Lease or Franchise or some such 'Right of Use' relating to the Beach, for a nominal sum.

There was a protest march a few weeks ago from the Belediye offices to the beach, and more recently it was reported that 2 Belediye employees had been arrested for trespass on the beach (the Police having been called by the Merit Group).

I don't know what has happened since...

Thanks Keith. As you surmised, due to lack of knowledge I could share nothing, and I guess others are in the same position. We all had a notice in our doors to join the protest (and in English!!!) and there was a good turn out, but never heard what was said, concluded etc etc.

If there is a Turkish speaker around, maybe they can ask the Belediye at Alsancak for an answer. Meanwhile, if people were arrested for trespassing, I will definitely stay away.

Thanks Keith for the info.

Thanks Keith for your info. The march was a good turn-out--I was there, but unfortunately, all the talking was in Turkish, so the ex-pat group didn't learn much. If the Merit group are granted some 'right of use' of the public beach, then perhaps the locals, who can't get on their own beach, could use the Merit Pools!!!!

Well, and this is only my own interpretation of the situation....

The fact that a Company has been granted a Lease / Franchise / 'Whatever' on a beach and the surrounding land, does give them the right (subject to Planning Laws ) to develop and use the land and beach for 'Touristic Purposes', and to charge for the use of any Facilities and Services, e.g. Sunbeds, Parasols, Toilets, etc.

However this does NOT negate the right, enshrined in TRNC Law, for the Public to enjoy Free Access to the coastline, so if you don't want to use any of the facilities, and you only want to swim in the sea, and sit on your own towel on the sand, they are obliged to allow you to do so. If they try to impede your progress (on foot, at least - I'm not sure that the Law allows any right of vehicular access) then ring the Police - they have been reported to uphold this Law on several occasions in the past, and I'm told that it's quite clear cut.

The issue with the Belediye workers may well have concerned their actions, rather than their simple presence on the beach - either trying to put out the Belediye sunbeds / Parasols, or interfering with the positioning of equipment belonging to the Merit Group. Merely being on a piece of land would not normally constitute trespass, as far as I remember (although, technically, crushing a single blade of grass would! Not sure about SAND though... ).

The above is only my own opinion, so don't hold me responsible if you find yourself doing a re-enactment of 'Midnight Express'!