In brief:

Tarmacking gets underway in Akbuk

AKBUK roads are presently being tarmacked after a winter of muddy and rutted roads caused by the laying new sewers.

Lorries with liquid black tar are now causing more grief as drivers, caught unawares, are finding their cars being caught up in the black stuff.

Resident Carol Knox said: “The only problem was that they did most of main road and you couldn’t cross without being covered in tar… we got plastic carrier bags from supermarket and covered shoes – messy but did the job.”

Another responded on Didim Voices’ Facebook page: “What a mess. 4 days later and it still hasn’t set, the Million Shop appears to have given up and shut up shop ,there is tar everywhere.

“You look from the Migros car park to restuarants where people have brought the tar in on their feet, People getting stuck trying to cross the roads. Tthis is an abject failure in trying to impress visitors. They are shell shocked.”

An Akbuk business owner commented: “Yes, the work on the main road in Akbuk has begun but what a nightmare: all cars, shops everywhere covered in tar. All cars have black streaks along all of them, Just seen a very expensive white Mercedes, which now has the whole of the bottom half completely covered in tar.

“Well done to the Belediyesi for really thinking this one out and blocking the road off when tar is laid what is the point of laying it and allowing cars etc to still use it!” The road tarmacking operation is expected to last for the next few days.

Shorter Didim-Bodrum Airport route promised – again

ELECTIONS are in the air and so are the many promises being relayed by the various political parties across Aydin.

The AKP, which holds the central government by a majority, has locally suggested that a 34-kilometre route as part of the run could be funded through Akbuk to Bodrum Airport.

However, it isn’t a new idea as it was originally floated in 2009 as part of the party’s regional programme.

The AKP said road improvements on Didim-Kazıklı-Airport route could be brought to the fore if investment could be found.

Various council and chamber of commerce leaders in Didim have acknowledged that the route’s improvement is key to lifting the tourism fortunes of the region.

Rescue training exercises undertaken

A SERIES of rescue training exercises were held on Altinkum Beach as part of a joint effort by emergency services and Didim Water Sports Association.

The lifesaving efforts were completed with input fron the Didim Governors’ office, the district police and fire services, Gendarmerie and the county’s marine police team.

The exercises, which took place about 200 metres out at sea, involved the ‘rescue’ of two people in a jet ski incident.

Once the exercise had finished, the governor’s office carried out an assessment and de-brief as to where mistakes were made and how the rescue operations could be improved upon.