Green Bay is the jewel in the crown of diving in eastern Cyprus.

The mayor of Paralimni has unilaterally decided to close Green Bay to vehicles. This will be disastrous to the scuba diving industry!

It is vital that heavy scuba equipment can be brought close to the water's edge and that vehicles can be used to assist in the donning of equipment and also to help less able-bodied divers into the water.

Moreover, it is crucial that the entry, exit and training areas of Green Bay for scuba diving are SAFE to use.

Under the Mayor's current plans, this will not be the case.

• The area chosen for access to the water is not suitable for student divers.
• As vehicles would be prohibited in Green Bay, this would mean that safety is compromised in the event of a diving incident. It would also necessitate "dropping" equipment near the water's edge and leaving student divers and equipment unattended while the dive instructor attempts to park the vehicle elsewhere. This is not acceptable.
• Parking is already a major issue in that area at weekends and in high season.
• It would be very difficult for divers with disabilities to enter the water.

This entire proposal is unsafe, unworkable and therefore unacceptable.

The signatories to this petition demand that the mayor of Paralimni urgently rethinks these plans and seeks the input of the scuba diving industry in eastern Cyprus.