Letters to the Editor

Take Didim to the next level

Name and address supplied

HOW about starting something like “SAADET = Saving  Altinkum  And Didim Enhancement Team”. (SAADET means Happiness in Turkish).

Voices newspaper is the voice of the people (expats and locals) so would it be possible to organise a way for us all to work together in a friendly fashion to save our chosen home from losing its sparkle altogether?

I don’t want to sit back and see this place/our home deteriorate any further – how much further can it go?

I am tired of hearing our area described as “Dirty Didim” or “Al Stinkum” and like many others would like to see an improvement. There is always someone ready to decry the area and its people – locals, expats, decision makers and others alike.

People come from all over the world to see The Apollo Temple – why can’t we be proud of that and make the pride spread to the whole of this region? The meeting with the new Mayor should be the start of something great.

So with improvement in mind, why don’t we just ask everyone who is here for either a holiday or as a life choice for THEIR ideas, THEIR goodwill and THEIR assistance to make that improvement.

There are a lot of enthusiastic, talented, forward thinking people here with a lot of time on their hands – why not use that time for something good that will make a difference to us all. It might take time but it could work with just a bit of positive thinking. Who knows it might even boost tourism and it would definitely shut the moaners up.

A lot of Brits moan that the Turkish people don’t want us here – well let’s show the Turkish people that we can bring and do good things in life too. Let’s all show a bit more mutual respect to everyone we meet on a daily basis.

The council are trying to help by tending the “local tourist gems” and boosting “The Sacred Road” but there must be things that us ordinary folk (locals & expats) could do as well – without too much effort, hassle or expense.

Local businesses could earn some good “Street Cred” by getting involved. Business is not just about money, it’s also about contributing to your community.

Instead of criticising why don’t we all combine our ideas to put Didim/Altinkum on the world map for some really good reasons instead of the usual shameful stories that we’ve all got used to reading about.

Just like the ongoing plastic bottle cap collection for helping to provide wheelchairs – what else can be put to good use? What about the actual empty bottles, can’t they also be used for something themselves?

Start the schools and school-kids recycling. Teach children that litter has a bad impact on their area. Have collection boxes/bins on the school grounds with regular collections via the council workers or volunteers. Encourage everyone not to throw away litter in the first place and to pick it up if they see it.

Let’s make Didim Public Library (English print section) one to be envied by the rest of Turkey. There are absolutely loads of books lying about and with a wee bit of planning they could be donated, collected, sorted and displayed by willing volunteers assisting the library workers.

If there is a public path/street nearby which has become overgrown with weeds and grass, then why not invest in some weed killer (20tl for a big tub) from the garden shop in Didim. In some areas, there are not many pavements fit to walk on but we could help improve the ones we have.

Take action and help make this area one of the safest places for anyone to have a holiday (or live) by helping to raise funds for the introduction of more MOBESE surveillance equipment.

Again increase safety by installing solar lighting (solar cuts power costs) in problematic dark areas.

Let’s help the two local groups (Helping Hands & Chatty Chicks) to make sure that there are no local families suffering from cold or hunger this coming winter which will mean that there will be no beggars in the streets or hanging around the local restaurants.

There are so many overloaded fruit trees in the gardens of empty/unoccupied houses (summer and winter) – why can’t the local schools use this fruit via home economic lessons to make food for the underprivileged?

People moan that expats change the area that they live in, well let’s show them all – that all change is not bad and instead of thinking of change why can’t we just call it improvement instead?

These comments are no reflection on the local council, council staff or its services – but highlight areas which the council have maybe just not got around to dealing with yet! Many hands make light work.

There must be loads of Voices readers who have other/better ideas – let’s share them. We’ve all invested our time, life and money here so:  Let’s help shape a Didim & Altinkum to be proud of.

Work together for Didim

Jean Button 

HAVING attended the meeting organised by Voices, I would like to share some of my thoughts.

Everyone in the community needs to work together if Didim is to survive and move forward.  All the tourism related  businesses need to work together for their own good and the good of the town.

I noticed in Voices recently a reception for businesses in the area but there was not representation from any of the British owned Turkish registered businesses. 

I wrote to Voices newspaper in October 2012 and you will see from this that few things have changed.

Key points: A new website is needed  that better promotes the area; traffic on the promenade needs sorting; different types of holiday need to be promoted; more use needs to be made of the marina to attract visitor; customs post should be re-instated – this would mean trips to Kos, Samos etc – people do not want to have to go to Bodrum or Kusadasi for this; Tourist information outlet – this needs to be on the promenade where people can find it.  This will then promote the wide range of things that the area has to offer with people to give advice.

There was mention at the meeting of banning beach traders.  My suggestion is do not ban, regulate.  In this way you can control the type of traders and it will bring the council revenue.

Some of the carts provide a service holiday makers want. Also why not have pitches for hire along the promenade in the evening for traders to sell craft goods.  You see this in many Mediterranean resorts.

This attract more people to the promenade at night and helps the local businesses as people leave the All Inclusive hotels and the rents raise money for the council.  The type of stalls can also be regulated in this way and so get a good balance of what holiday makers are looking for.

To prosper in the future the area needs to attract a wider range of people and offer more actives so the season can be extended.  The location is ideal as a base for historic, religious, bird watching and walking holiday to name just a few things.

It would also be useful to try to improve the image of the area. Unfortunately it has a bad image at present due to problems with buyers being ripped off etc.  This came out at the meeting.

Would it not be possible to have an amnesty on pool licences, habitation certificates etc.  It is good that regulations will be enforced in the future but this does not help those who bought in the past and have problems. 

An amnesty would be a very positive action that could do much to improve the reputation of the area and draw a line under the problems of the old council and show that things will be different in the future.

I really think the council should consider participating in things like ‘The Destinations Show ‘in the UK to promote the areas features and holiday opportunities. The area need to have a strategy to move forward if the resorts are to have a prosperous future.  Everyone needs to work together but the lead needs to come from the council.