Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Topic started by: Ron and Sue on June 21, 2016, 12:58:43 PM
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We have just arrived home after another excellent holiday in Arillas.Many thanks to Jimmy,Vicky and all the family at the Rainbow for making our visit so pleasurable.The village was a little quiet when we arrived but was getting much fuller towards the end of our stay. The new grillroom Bouyata(ex Stekis) was doing very well as were all the eating places we visited.The Mirage has been transformed with new apartments and a re-designed restaurant area.The storm on 13th June was tremendous but all the people pulled together to help right the damage done. The only down side was that the bins had not been emptied for 3 weeks before we arrived and still had not been emptied when we left.Arillas was not good with rubbish overflowing the bins and spreading into the road but compared to some of the resorts that we passed through they were quite lucky.Sidari had created a communal tip in the middle of the main carpark and it must have measured 50 metres long and 25 metres wide so you can imagine the smell. Returning at the airport we heard a lot of people (some first time visitors) saying that they would never return again because of the rubbish.It is such a pity that this reflects so badly on the island.
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That's not good to hear at all about the rubbish :-(
Glad you had a great time though
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I take it theres a strike of some sort with the bin men
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That is what I was going to ask Craig.
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It seems that there is a strike by the rubbish collectors which has gone on for several weeks and shows little sign of ending.
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The word when we were there was that the bin men had not been paid for some time and were refusing to clear the rubbish,
in which case that is understandable. However It becomes a concern on health grounds as well as providing a bad impression of the Island, especially for the first time visitor. The government need to address the issue with urgency as the loss of visitors to the island can only be of detriment to the Island and its future.
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It was the same last year - maybe not in Arillas but, on driving around the island, we encountered many areas (resorts and inland villages) with overflowing rubbish. The smell was stomach churning! Definitely needs sorting out as it's off-putting to much needed visitors, not to mention a health hazard but it seems to be part of a larger, ongoing issue which no doubt won't be resolved quickly!
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Hear hear John. As a union branch rep myself I could only advocate a removal of services if there was a removal of salary. I don't honestly have enough insight into the situation to truly comment, although, one can only hope that the Corfiot powers that be quickly realise that this situation negatively affects tourism. It won't affect my decision to visit, I'm still counting the minutes ........ about 1800 of them :-)
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Do they not have tips like we have where residents could take the ribbon to themselves while the strike is on?
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We heard that the land fill sites are full with locked gates. The rubbish is going to be collected and taken to the mainland by contractors. Still waiting for them to arrive though.
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It is so important. All the efforts of our favourite businesses in Arillas go as nothing if they are seen by the world as being surrounded by rotting waste, however much it may not be true in their vicinity.
I always think warmly of Billy at Armourada who campaigns tirelessly to prompt a clean up and harangues people to keep it all clean. Be sure - he understands more about Arillas than any of us can.
However, the effect on Arillas itself will be rapidly sorted by the local people, who are so proud of our little corner of the world. They deal with the weather, the strikes and even the "bladdy tourists." Like dear friend cypress says - these reports will have no effect on most of us who go regularly - because we know the truth of what it will really be like. Wonderful.
Phil
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Sorry Phil but this is one thing Billy can't do at the moment, the family have managed to open the shop this week but it closes very early evening and the restaurant is now open as well. Takis is still in hospital as far as I know but the whole family and all friends are very worried about him.
As to the rubbish all the bins are overflowing but everyone is bagging the rubbish before leaving it by the big bins. The smell as you walk past them is horrible though.
Val x
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Oh dear. Never like walking past the bins on the road out of the village on the bend after Vinceremos as it is as the bins are often overflowing and smell anyway. One of the few negative points that I have always overlooked.
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the scenes when we were driven into Corfu town yesterday to get our flight home were quite depressing. Massive dumps of rubbish lying around. Tasos reckoned that the strike may be over this week, I really hope so.
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The bin problem has its own thread on Ag Stef forum! Rubbish is apparently stacking up there in the main street.
According to locals on there it is the closure of the landfill in the south of the island which has caused the problem, closed as it's full. Dont know whether this is right or not, but whatever the problem it will do nothing to encourage first time visitors to return and can only have a negative impact on the tourist industry many rely upon.
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According to locals on there it is the closure of the landfill in the south of the island which has caused the problem, closed as it's full.
That's what we heard last year and saw an article in the Corfu press too. Creating a problem all over the island. Not good for anyone and no easy solution!
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Quote from todays news:
"The European Commission said Thursday that it is taking Greece to court for the inadequate management of waste at a landfill on the Ionian island of Corfu.
The Commission found that the operation of the landfill near the village of Temploni, in the center of the island, has consistently flouted European waste management standards since 2007."
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I spoke to Dimitris last night he said would speak to the council, to see if anything could be resolved locally, possibly including re-cycling!
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Has anyone heard any more news regarding the bin men strike?
Andy.
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Hi Andy we arrived yesterday . It is not a strike but rather that the landfill site on the island is closed. Was extremely shocked by the mounds of rubbish on the streets.. we had thought we would go into Corfu town one evening but we will leave it until the rubbish is sorted. Here in Arillas there are bags and bags of rubbish stacked up by the bins but the good news is that poppy from Bardis sun studios got on the phone yesterday to some of the other local business owners and they have come up with a plan and a lot of the rubbish should be moved today.
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Thanks Sonia, let's hope that they find a solution. I feel really sorry for the local people and businesses as it may put off a lot of visitors from returning especially first timers , first impressions and all that.
Andy.
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Please keep us updated Sonia! :)
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The rubbish has been moved along the seafront in Arillas.Not sure about further afield as not been out of Arillas yet. Lol.
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The bins near the Galiini are overflowing on to the road, it a good job there are plenty of swallows and house martins around as they are having a field day.(or month)
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The bin men have been and taken the rubbish away. Although they were not altogether efficient at the jobs, a lot of areas have been left strewn with litter around them, but a big improvement.