Appeals court denies request to halt construction of asphalt plant in Mitsero

The Administrative Court of Appeal has rejected an interim request from eight community councils to suspend the planning permit for an asphalt plant near the village of Mitsero. The communities involved are Mitsero, Agrokipia, Agios Ioannis Nicosia, Kato Moni, Arediou, Meniko, Malounta, and Orounta. This facility is being relocated from the residential area of Dali. Previously, the Administrative Court had dismissed a lawsuit from these councils and upheld the original permit. In the recent decision, the majority of the judges ruled that the claimants failed to prove manifest illegality or irreparable harm to the environment and public health. A minority opinion within the court stated that the request should have been rejected on procedural grounds. The court has ordered both parties to prepare for an expedited hearing of the pending appeal. The state was represented by Senior State Counsel Theodora Piperi-Christodoulou and State Counsel Thasos Chatziloukas.