A formal no-nonsense letter from Gouves Mayor Yiorgo Nikolakaki to the Iraklion Prefecture and to the Local Union of Townships and Communities concerning the development of the prime property of the old American base in Gournes was unanimously approved by the town council at a recent emergency meeting on the escalating controversy.

In the letter, the mayor and council emphatically stated that:

1 – The base’s ownership regime must be cleared-up, with the definite and absolute transferring of the entire base acreage to the Township for its establishments, installations, public schools and the public common good.

2 – The public character of the property must be kept in the decided uses, something which doesn’t necessarily exclude the participation of private citizens for the economic and functional viability of proposed works.

3 – The one-sided and un-controlled private actions of a strategic investor who would have acted outside of the framework of the area’s still formulating city planning and the pursuit of the Gouves Demos and those of the Iraklion province is absolutely out of the question.

“The base constitutes a vital area in the geographical and functional center of the Gouves demos,” Mayor Nikolakakis said.  “In this area you can find the town hall and a complex of educational facilities ranging from day care to high school, as well as an International Exhibit Center, the Hellenic Center of Marine Research and the CretAquarium.”

He went on to state that the Gouves Township has enrolled the property in its city planning procedures and anticipates and foresees:

a) Buildings for public services, such as a library, theater, cinema, museum etc.

b) Creation of a City Health Center in co-operation with the neighboring townships of Hersonissos and Malia, as well as Nea Alikarnassos and Episkopi, to cover all regular and emergency health needs.

c) Creation of a permanent fire station.

d) Development of green areas and free beach access.

Following the town council’s resounding approval of the mayor’s “get-tough” stance, several councilmen and concerned people submitted proposals to be put on the negotiation table:

Mihalis Plevrakis of Koxari proposes, in part, that:

– Due to the city planning in progress, the base property should be legislated and the land usage defined, absolutely excluding large hotel units and malls, setting as its goal an environmentally modelled function.

– The township must act in cooperation with the Hellenic Marine Research Institute, the Crete University, the Iraklion Prefecture, Athletic Associations and Unions and all other interested parties to initiate a study for the creation of a Nautical-Athletic center at the beach front which will connect with the CretAquarium, the Hellenic Marine Research Institute, the abandoned city pool and the small harbour with its conversion to a Marina.

 “Finally, only and if there is no interest from a public investor, private investments can be considered but for a predetermined amount of time and rules, in cooperation with the township’s interests and public character,” he stated.

Lefteris Zouros of Kato Vathia issued a report stating, that while he believes in keeping with the public character, he also leans towards the creation of works which will attract self-powered investments, to insure the upkeep of the area.

“I propose the building of an education facility for multiple uses, plus a museum, athletic installations, entertainment facilities and a hostelry to support the functions of the proposed activities,” he said.

Gournes Association Development and Environment said they would like to see educational facilities for all levels (including graduate work), plus the creation of a national intellectual and cultural  convention center, open air parks and green areas, homes and entertainment centres for people in the third age, a fire station, a volunteer training center and a health centre.

Many interested parties closely following the critical situation concerning the base property felt that this letter, and its unanimous approval by the town council, was a positive step in forming a united front in the battle over the development of the property for the betterment of the community.

“This is the first time the entire town council voted unanimously on any issue concerning the property,” one observer commented.

Meanwhile, several local groups kept up their campaign against the commercial development of the base by sponsoring a protest music concert at the Hellenic Marine Research Institute’s Amphitheater (see Education column).