Relief for campaigners as five-star hotel on Milos's famous moon beach' halted

"Local authorities on the Cycladic island of Milos said a building licence for the resort on the world-renowned moon beach had been revoked by the municipality's planning department after falling short of inspection standards. It was found that not all required approvals and supporting documentation had been submitted, the island's municipal council said in a statement Wednesday. No construction will proceed without full compliance with laws and environmental requirements."

"Famous for its lunar-like volcanic landscape, hewn over millions of years, Milos's moon beach is among the most photographed shorelines in Greece, with travel experts describing it as among the most beautiful on the planet. Architectural plans envisioned the hotel complex cascading across a vast area of the pumice-white rocks, with swimming pools and cave villas constructed within view of breathtakingly turquoise Aegean seas below."

"The decision is undeniably good news but in reality it is only a small step in the right direction, says Dimitris Vayanos, an academic who heads Save Ios, a citizens' association set up to protect the Cycladic isle's character and natural environment. There is huge pressure from various stakeholders to build these islands to death. Right now, there are about 50 hotels being constructed in Milos."

Environmental campaigners welcomed a municipal decision to halt construction of a disputed five-star hotel on Milos's Sarakiniko 'moon beach'. The municipal planning department revoked the resort's building licence after inspections found missing approvals and supporting documentation. No construction will proceed without full compliance with environmental and legal requirements. Excavators had been spotted earlier, provoking public outcry and pressure on the mayor. Sarakiniko is famed for its lunar-like volcanic landscape and is among Greece's most photographed shorelines. Architectural plans would have carved pools and cave villas into pumice-white rock, raising alarm about runaway construction amid booming tourism and about 50 hotels under construction on Milos.

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