Court approves landfill works
A justice of the peace court in Marathon, northeast of Athens, yesterday gave the go-ahead for the creation of a large landfill at Grammatiko, a project vehemently opposed by local authorities and residents. The same court last month suspended the controversial project to allow the examination of claims by locals complaining that the proposed landfill site belongs to an area designated as forestland. By late last night there had been no reaction to the ruling by local authorities or residents who have blocked the site on several occasions to protest the project. The situation is complicated by the fact that last Friday’s fire in Grammatiko broke out just 800 meters from the site of the proposed landfill. It is unclear how the fire started though arson is suspected. The fire service has accused protesters of starting a fire near the site in July.
