NO sooner had the government announced plans for a massive open with a sea view on the outskirts of Didim, than it was effectively cancelled.

Didim Voices revealed that despite the town falling within a tourist zone, the Ministry of Finance which owns swathes of land throughout the town, had apparently agreed to allocate 1,662 acres to the Ministry of Justice to be used as an open prison.

The location was by the Aqua Park, out towards Tasburun, which is past Mavisehir and on the way to Akkoy. The allocated area lies on a hill and less than three kilometers from the Aegean shoreline.

The prisoners were planning to contribute in the development of olive cultivation and animal husbandry.

The Ministry of Finance negotiations via the General Directorate of National Property had been underway for more than a year, but nothing had been confirmed.

Once the issue had been revealed by Voices and local media, Didim Mayor Deniz Atabay reacted strongly to the imposition of prison so close to a dedicated tourism area.

Lobbying was done at a high level and this week, the Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that plan had been cancelled.

Mr Atabay thanked Mr Bozdag for a swift conclusion to the plan and for showing sensitivity and common sense. He added: “The Justice Ministry has stated that these type of projects should be realized in more appropriate areas.

“Didim is a tourism-dedicated area and should remain so.”