Μake us preferred on Google Citizens continue to report violations and unauthorized use of beaches across Greece at an unabated pace. Through the MyCoast platform and on social media, beachgoers are reporting encroachment on the public shoreline, including sunbeds placed right at the water’s edge. In Polygyros, Halkidiki, municipal crews removed 100 umbrellas and sunbeds that had been permanently installed and locked in place on Gerakini Beach.
Just hours after an operation to remove the umbrellas and sun loungers from the public beach, some people returned and reinstalled their equipment.
On Tuesday morning, the local municipality launched an operation to clear public space on beach. Municipal crews, joined by Deputy Mayor Vasilis Fardogiannis, removed permanently anchored umbrellas and sun loungers that were occupying the shoreline and restricting beachgoers’ free access.
The operation involved a truck, two pickup trucks and an excavator.
The equipment sat chained together on the sand in front of homes bordering the shoreline, waiting for the occupants of those properties to use them for sunbathing. “Most of the properties are rented out on Airbnb. The lock has a key that is handed over along with the room key,” Fardogiannis said.
The municipality had previously issued a notice calling on residents and vacationers to remove any equipment that had been left permanently on the seashore and beach. Despite the appeal, several people failed to comply, prompting municipal crews to remove the equipment themselves.
“There were even arguments. Someone would go to set up their umbrella to swim, and they would be told they were not allowed to put it in certain areas because that space belonged to the homeowners,” Fardogiannis said.
Fardogiannis stressed that the operation was not intended as a confrontation.
“This is not a move aimed at confronting anyone. It is a necessary intervention to protect public space and enforce rules that apply to everyone. The municipality will continue inspections and interventions wherever necessary, with the aim of keeping beaches clean, open and accessible to residents and visitors,” he said.
According to the Public Property Service, the umbrellas and sun loungers that were removed are treated as waste and were taken to a recycling facility.
