Hopes fade for 'last unspoilt corner of Corfu' as construction of holiday village begins
An opening party for the construction of a holiday village on a pristine plot of 500 acres of forested land to the north of Corfu was attended by the Greek Prime Minister last week.
Met with heavy resistance from the residents of the island, including Lee Durrell, the wife of the late naturalist Gerald Durrell, it is feared the plans will precede the destruction of the last untouched spot on the already heavily developed island.
The area known as Erimitis (meaning ‘hermit’) is a regular excursion on the Gerald Durrell Week hiking and nature trail expeditions. Described by Lee Durrell as “a wonderful, very rich place to be,” Erimitis begins as a thick expanse of dense forest with winding hiking paths that eventually lead to white pebble beaches with turquoise waters.
It is home to a great variety of wildlife, including the rare Eurasian otter and migrating seals and dolphins. Many hike the trails or visit by boat to enjoy the paradisiacal beaches that are lined with dense vegetation.
New York-based investors NCH Capital held an opening party on the site on July 12, hailing the beginning of construction work on 42 villas, a 90-room hotel complex featuring restaurants and a bar, and a 60-berth marina.
“The whole thing stinks... and the European bodies should not allow this thing to happen,” said Corfiot Dimitris Roussos at the protests held in opposition to the development on Saturday, to coincide with Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ visit to the island. “It’s the one part of Corfu that remains virgin and we want it to remain that way for our children,” he added, waving a hand-painted ‘Save Erimitis’ banner in the heart of Corfu’s old town.
As well as locals gathering en masse to protest through the old town and then as close to the site as they could get to on Saturday (the public footpaths en route to Erimitis were blocked by riot police), British residents of the island have also spoken out against the development. In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the Corfu Home Owner’s Association said: “This proposed development will desecrate a wonderful landscape and will be bad for the local economy and very bad for the long-term prosperity of North East Corfu.”
Many at the protests on Saturday feared that the development would not only be damaging to nature in this biodiverse part of the island, but would lead to the devaluing of the entire region of the north east and funnel money away from the local economy.
“Erimitis as it is, is a valuable asset,” said Annie Laughton, a British home-owner on the island. “So many people have villas here because it’s so special and unique,” added husband Hugh, who regularly walks the trails throughout the year and would like to see Erimitis become a protected zone that will welcome hiking visitors year-round.
Managing Director at NCH Capital Andreas Santis said: “We are trying and will do our utmost to preserve and promote nature. People will come here and pay to enjoy nature.”
In response to the claims that the development will not be harmful to the biodiversity of Erimitis, naturalist Lee Durrell (made an MBE for her work in conservation) said: “I think that is impossible with the plans that are being put forward. It might look like green stuff in the plans and of course you can plant vegetation on the side of the road but that is not the same. The ecology of the place, the way the animals and the plants are put together and rub along together will be destroyed.”
The bulk of construction on the site is set to begin in September. Residents have launched a petition to halt the work from going ahead.
