§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations have taken place with the UK. Sovereign Base authority concerning a proposal to construct a new golf course on the salt marshes surrounding Akrotiri salt lake, Cyprus; and whether the authority has issued any guidance to UK contractors concerning the likely environmental impact of the project.
§ The Earl of ArranRequests were received by the Sovereign Base Area administration in 1980 and 1989 for approval in principle for the construction of a golf course on the Akrotiri Peninsula. The SBA administration agreed to consider further plans in detail but on both occasions the plans were shelved by the developers. More recently, an inquiry was made in September 1991 on behalf of a UK firm to consider an application for a golf course near Sotira Village in the Sovereign Base Area.
Such applications are considered by the Sovereign Base Area administration in the light of Her Majesty's Government's treaty undertakings to the Republic of Cyprus, British Forces' security considerations, and 94WA the environmental, social and economic impact on the Cypriot community in the Sovereign Base Areas. The general principles governing the development of the Sovereign Base Areas are set out in Appendix 'O' to the Cyprus Treaty of Establishment (Cmmd. 1093). All proposals are dealt with on a case by case basis, and the administration is happy to offer specific advice concerning the constraints on development in the areas.