More shops

[Deniz1]

Hooray just what we need more shops being built opposite the Food Lodge. a lovely house was pulled down to do it. Its getting ridiculous.

[kaiserphil]

Deniz - it is because they get some sort of grant for building shops. Doesn't matter if they never open.

[thornaby]

Empty buildings be it shops or house are a blight on the landscape.
I don't know what the rules are but there seems a lack of sensible planning control.
Look no further then the two high rise monstrosities just past Belapais traffic lights.

[Panchocat]

The family who live next to the big hole that will be shops also owned the house that was demolished. As you say Deniz more empty shops to make another blot on the landscape.

[karmels]

Who are we to comment on the buildings going up in the TRNC.
If they want to build it is their right, If it is to big it has been passed ??
Leave it out, we are guests, we have done our best to ruin England with tower blocks but it does not give us a right to comment on the building in the North.
Yes they are ugly, yes they are out of place BUT as said before they have been passed.
The large block of flats on the right at Dogankoy roundabout is being built by our ex Girne Mayor, who was the best thing since sliced bread 2 years ago for the improvements he was making around Girne.
You will not make a bit of difference to what is going on, if they build shops it is them that are paying for the build and if they stay empty it is down to them.
I rest my case and await the flack.

[karmels]

thornaby.
Have a good look around the inner Cities in the UK they are in vast disrepair which is far more offensive to the eye than a empty shop in the TRNC.

[starlitdragstar]

Karmels,

Agree 100% with you, you people that moan about anything going in in the TRNC have no right to dictate what goes on here, we are guests, albeit permanent ones, but we are not Turkish or Turkish Cypriots, so don't try and stir things up, we have enough nimbys in the UK as it is, and I suggest if you don't like it here to go back to your nimby friends in the UK. Getting sick and tired of all the Brits moaning about life here!!

[Deniz1]

Oh I am so sorry to offend but offends me to see the ruination of my country my cypriot relations are complaining too as for planning permission thats a joke.

[Briannu]

KARMELS

I think if you live here, pay your dues you are quite entitled to comment on the monstrous buildings going up especially when they are built within yards of your property. In Upper Kyrenia in the vicinity around where I luckily sold my property 2 years ago there are now 5 tower blocks being built which will very soon blight the view my ex neighbours and friends. The planning in Cyprus restricts tower blocks to 7 floors and lo behold two of these are 9 storey buildings. Thank god we moved to Esentepe and got out of the madness that is Kyrenia now, yes that includes the vast increase in traffic.

[sophie]

I don't understand these people who continually chant the mantra "we are only classed as visitors, so we shouldn't have a view on what goes on here" I realise we don't have a vote but we can certainly have a view on subjects, we pay taxes etc afterall. Locals are just as agitated as we are as to some of the monstrosities being constructed in Girne in particular. Their views of mountains and sea which they have enjoyed for years have disappeared almost overnight and some will live in the shower of these blocks for hours on end. They feel frustrated as they can do nothing about it. (they don't have the necessary power or money to fight the politicians or constructers who ride rough shod over everything)

Its a pity the powers that be don't have the clout that they have in Istanbul when three completed huge tower blocks (over 30 storeys high I think) are going to be "removed" because they are spoiling to views of the majestic mosques and other buildings and the skyline in general in the city. But then, maybe its the Powers That Be, that are responsible for the buildings in Girne, being constructed in the first place.

[SKYBLUESAM]

I agree with Briannu and Deniz 1, So many shops all selling the same Tat, why does no one come up with anything original!.
We moved to Esentepe for the same reason as earlier poster, to get away from the noise, traffic, casino's and all the Empty shops and building sites!

[Ragged Robin]

Normally I would agree that (even long term) guests shouldnt always be moaning about the customs of their host country but these montrosities are NOT natural to North Cyprus, and I think constructive criticism is acceptable : Please authorities listen to us because we have seen it happen in our native country: have a good look at the UK (or even South Cyprus) and learn from their mistakes what to avoid.

I wonder who will/is already using these shops: recently all the Supermarkets and their carparks east of Girne are chock (or çok! ) full and the number of shops selling really expensive household luxuries has increased. Not really explicable because of the tourist season: where do the customers and the money come from!

[karmels]

Ragged Robin.
We should not go down the road of were the money comes from. It comes from the same source as the money for the large 4x4s and the top of the range cars.
Over the last couple of years they have built 4 large apartment blocks near to where I live, once they were finished it only took 3 months for the block to be fully occupied, this shows there is a need for housing at the right price, they days when a newly married couple had a house built by their families are disappearing slowly as the family have sold all their land.
A friend of mine in the building trade, he builds Social housing and Government projects that builders are building shops on the land they own as it will be more difficult for the Greeks to reclaim the land and possibly that is why they choose to build shops with flats on top, Who will ever know.

[Groucho]

Deniz - it is because they get some sort of grant for building shops. Doesn't matter if they never open.

They may well get a grant but if they never ever let the shop it's not a bonus to anybody.... unless they get more than 100% grant.

[Deniz1]

News flash 4 more shops are being built next door to Pit Stop Catalkoy.

[Panchocat]

Very soon all those green areas to the side of the coast road east of Girne will be built on. If you count the number of empty shops from Catalkoy to Girne it's a very high number. Try it and see.
What does it say to tourists about the economy when they see row upon row of empty shops?
I also think if we reside here we should be able to express constructive views about construction without being accused of having no right to comment.
Lessons should be learned from the over development and over commercialisation of other countries if this unique little country is to retain it's charm. That is not to say ban all progress but planning controls should be enforced.

[tomsteel]

Whilst I am a 'visitor' according to my passport stamp, I do wonder at the reaction of locals to expats expressing their views/perceived standards as to how life should be here in the TRNC. Is it not patronising for expats to dictate/bemoan decisions taken by TCs as to how they wish to develop (or not) their country. Surely, if expats are that dissatisfied, should they not vote with their feet and leave rather than 'bleat' about their adopted country? I would almost guarantee not one TC with any influence/power here gives a fig what expats think about decisions taken, life-style, enforcement of laws, property scams et al. Tin hat on!

[karmels]

ts, I am stood in line with you awaiting the firing squad.

No wonder the Ausies call us Winging Poms.

[Ragged Robin]

tomsteel : I think rightly and understandably the the "locals" dislike us when we criticise or make fun of them as a race, and their customs. But quite a lot agree with our views on some issues, including this one. The is problem the Brits (including some British Cypriots) have been part of the problem by demanding "villas " with swimming pools, more imported goods in the shops etc. without thought for the effect their estates and flats have on others and the environment.

With regard to Planning Laws, in the UK any application for Planning Permission has to be publicized before being considered: unfortunately my Turkish isnt up to reading newspapers but I think I would have picked up if notices were posted. Does anyone know the rules. I suspect a lot of buildings are approved before anyone who might object has a chance to express their views

[Mollie the cat]

I think people fail to understand the logic behind all the construction, including me.
Near where we live there is a row of 12 units all empty and have been for well over three years. Next door and I mean almost touching, a builder has just built another 6???? Further to that from Erdiners supermarket there are already at least 70 unoccupied units towards Catalkoy opposite the said supermarket another 50 are under construction.

Do the builders know something we don't? I can't imagine the cost of the build, just doesn't make business sense, then again what do I know.

[Makum]

Can't wait for the Catalkoy supermarket wars to start when the Hypermaket that was the Coca Cola factory opens, it has 3 floors and a large basement, Supremes expanding in preparation so no doubt Tempo will be buying the football field to keep up with the pair, we have Turks and Brits leaving the Island like rats leaving a sinking ship, tourist numbers plummeting due to high prices of flights, all in all a declining populous, all I can think is they are going to give the Greeks a shop each instead of their land.

[Philoz]

At this rate of building we are going to get our own personal supermarkets.

[ham on brown]

Should this thread be in the property section ))

[sophie]

If that is the case philoz, I shall stock mine with cut price Marmite, huge piles of avocado, oak smoked haddock, wonderful selection of apples a Boots franchise and a Waterstones franchise. There will be no hip-hop and rap booming out to deafen the senses and I will handpick the staff and train them as to what items go where, not as yesterday when I found cream next to the bacon. And here's me thinking it would be either with the milk or the yoghurt.

[Hector]

For what it's worth I think that the reason we comment on what we think is wrong in the TRNC is because WE CARE, not because we think we are somehow superior to the locals. We may have experience of better systems, training and laws, which we can pass that on if there was anyone prepared to listen. If there was greater transparency and communication by local politicians as to what is happening and why, we could have a better understanding of what's going on.

With regards the high rise blocks of flats I do wonder what will happen with the lifts as my experience of locals is that they don't want to pay towards maintenance. Just a thought.

[Deniz1]

Hope they have a generator as power cuts would be fun if you in the lift at the time!