Plans for the long-awaited new international airport, to be located mainly in the Kastelli Township, adjoining the existing military airport, have been halted indefinitely due to an injunction filed by the local government.

In an exclusive interview with The Khronicles, Kastelli Mayor Manolis Smyrnakis denounced the previous airport feasibility studies as a sham which did not bring into consideration the quality of life for the residents of the surrounding communities.

"The studies of feasibility, environmental repercussion, and road axis were discussed by the Iraklion Prefecture Council, the Technical Chamber of Commerce and our township," the mayor said. "We all offered our reservations and proposals, but the public works minister at that time went ahead asking for bids without taking our concerns under consideration." 

Mayor Smyrnakis said that when the new government recently came into power he asked that this "approved" study be withdrawn and begin with a more pragmatic one.

"They didn't do so, so we, as the local government, filed our injunction with the Territory Council," he said.  "We still insist that with their feasibility and environment repercussion studies, the Kastelli region will be destroyed because there is no predictability for growth and no essential access from the new road to the airport towards Kastelli and its surrounding settlements."

In its petition, the local government listed its observations and demands to the existing study as:

--It takes into consideration only the access from the Hersonissos crossroad up to the airport and only considers airport passengers without it seriously taking into consideration an access to accommodate the settlements found around the airport.

--It mentions insignificant environmental repercussions but at the very least with two working airports the noise will be deafening.

--During the four or so years that the airport will be under construction, all the trucks and the heavy machinery will have to travel on bad and narrow existing roads with great possibilities of accidents and traffic jams. Another, better access must be developed.

While the major portion of the airport is in Kastelli, there are also two other townships involved, so we asked the mayor if everyone is in agreement.

"We try to be together although there are some problems among us," he explained. "But bear in mind that 90 percent of the combo's (military and new airport) physicality is in Kastelli while 95 percent of the expropriated land needed to build this new airport belongs to Kastelli locals.

"Let me say again," the mayor added emphatically, "that the problems are many and if our proposals are not seriously considered we will not agree to the building and consequently to the operation of the airport!"

The mayor insisted that one of the biggest issues is the military airport.

"Our municipalities cannot withstand both airports," he said. "The military must go. According to the national defense ministry, 60 percent of all southern Aegean deterrence initiates from this airport, but with Turkey going in the EU it's feasible."

The mayor didn't know when the matter will be up and discussed at the Mediating Territory Council but said Public Works vice minister, Mr. Magriotis, has stopped the bidding process in order to sit and negotiate.

"It is believed that as soon as even this month he will be in Iraklion and all interested parties will have their moment, possibly even a first contact with all the mayors involved," he said. "I really would like to emphasize that the local government isn't totally negative towards this project but our proposals must seriously be considered. What we ask must be granted!"

Being a bit more pragmatic when asked if, in his opinion, the airport will ever be a reality, Mayor Smyrnakis replied: "I believe that its journey has been routed and the airport will be built and we for our part are fighting for it to be built correctly so that it enhances and contributes to the local communities."

However, there are many people in the Kastelli area that say the airport will never be built, if they have their say about the project.

The Citizens' Initiative for the Presentation, Rescue and Sustainable Growth of the Pediada Region, a committee fighting against the new airport, has declared it opposes the airport "under any circumstances."

Yiorgos Kalogerakis, a leading representative of the committee, which claims a membership of 500 out of the total Kastelli population of 1700, said the airport will downgrade the quality of life of the local residents.

We, as well as the mayor, know that this is a huge project with many possible repercussions," he said. "They are trying to build an airport amongst 24 villages and five of them must disappear from the face of the earth. There could be no feasibility study that can honestly say that that's okay. We love our region, our kids; we don't want to see them get sick, we don't want noise and we certainly don't want the possible danger of an accident."

This reporter pointed out that his association represents only a third of the local population, and asked if that's enough to stop the construction.

"The longer the state takes to pay heed to our proposals the more people will decide against it," he predicted.