THE ownership of Altinkum Beach is to be addressed at the end of the summer season after doubt was raised about its future.

Didim mayor Deniz Atabay explained that an administration anomaly had been raised over the ownership of the beach following the shake-up of local councils.

The Aydın Special Provincial Administration which had essentially owned the beach as an asset had been wound up with the creation of Aydin Municipality Council – a new council with increased powers covering the province.

However, it seems that the ownership of the beach has fallen into an administrative limbo as council officers work out who should have jurisdiction over it.

The future of the beach is a moot point given that other beaches along Turkey’s Western coastal strip have been privatized or leased out as hotel clubs – enabling high charges for entry to the beaches and even heavier charges for drinks and food.

Didim Mayor Deniz Atabay said that after his council had enquired with Aydin, his officers had been told that the thorny issue will be addressed at the end of the summer.

The Hurriyet newspaper reported recently of the increasingly expensive private beach clubs spreading like wildfire across Turkey’s popular coastal holiday destinations like Çeşme and Bodrum.

Most of the clubs charge 30-40 Turkish Liras for entry alone, with a bottle of water being sold for 10 liras – 20 times higher than the average market price – and alcoholic beverages costing up to 1,250 liras. 

Unlike public beaches, visitors are not allowed to bring their own food and bags are searched on entry by the clubs’ security guards.

This leaves people at the mercy of expensive menus, which feature “lahmacun” – a meat filled thin bread, slightly resembling a sauceless pizza – for 30 liras, ten times the average price; stuffed mussels for 20 liras or beer for 25 liras.

With an additional 25 to 30 liras for parking, a day at these lavish beach clubs – just to enjoy the sun and the sea – will cost you around 150 liras.

The clubs usually provide a parasol and a sunbed, but they are usually crammed to enable the maximum number of visitors. 

It was reported that in Çeşme, a man was beaten up by bodyguards despite paying over 4,000 liras in one of Çeşme’s most popular beach clubs, “Before Sunset,” following a party.