Gazi residents demand action on nightclubs
Residents in the districts of Gazi, Kerameikos and Rouf in central Athens called on authorities yesterday to take action against the increasing number of illegal nightclubs that are operating in the area. In a statement, the local residents’ association invited officials to visit the area on a Friday or Saturday night and witness the «unacceptable conditions» created by the «biggest illegal ghetto» of doormen, parking attendants and criminals. People living in the once-rundown areas, which have become fashionable in recent years, complained that thousands of people visit local nightclubs which do not have operating licenses or safety certificates while parking attendants charge them to park their cars on public property. A prosecutor last year ordered an investigation into the practices of nightclubs in these areas but residents said that they have not heard anything about the probe since. The City of Athens recently decided to set up a committee to come up with a set of proposals on how the nightclubs should be run and how checks should be conducted. The proposals will be put to the relevant ministers, the municipality pledged.
