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Construction free zone along the coast line

Friday, Apr 17, 2009

Architects have called for a 100m construction-free zone along the Black Sea coastline. On the back of growing public discontent they have insisted for the application of article 16 of the Spatial Planning Act which guarantees a free access to the sea for everyone.

The Black Sea has been subjected to systematic destruction over the years with hotels, bars and clubs popping up along the coast line, tarnishing not only the environment but the entire holiday experience for most tourists, not to mention local people residing close to the sea who have been deprived of free access because of these construction projects. But it would appear that something is now being done to address the issue.

The proposal was made by Petko Yovchev at a discussion in Bourgas. The conference was headed by architects and MP's, including the authors of the aforementioned bill – Borislav Vladimirov and Marina Dikova.

Nowadays, the public is deprived of free access to the beach in many places because of construction that followed the restoration of land act in post-communist Bulgaria. Parcels of land, which were restored to their original owners, frequently had nothing on their eastern side except the sea, hence owners were keen on building immediately on the beach.

"The Black Sea coast needs a zone absolutely forbidden for construction", said Vladimirov, as quoted by Stroitelstvo Gradut.

Vladimirov noted that such laws already exist in Croatia which have ultimately led to the demolition of buildings situated within the forbidden 70-metre zone.

"Furthermore, municipalities should become owners of the beaches – not only the small but the main beaches too," he said, this being one of the main proposals made by all participants in the discussion.

"Beaches are supposed to service the tourism industry, and while the state wants to make a profit from them, construction there has resulted in negative trends in tourism," said Bourgas deputy mayor Georgi Nedelchev.

Source: PropertyWise Bulgaria