Saudi royals grab Riviera beach for themselves
The Local - [email protected] •
16 Jul, 2015
Updated Thu 16 Jul 2015 10:02 CEST
An impending visit from the Saudi royal family to the south of France has caused a stir after it was revealed the royals have commandeered a public beach so they can have it all to themselves. Apparently for the sake of security.
When members of the Saudi royal family comes to town, security will always be tight.
So tight, in fact, that they want the beach of Mirandole, in the town of Vallauris - where they own a property - all to themselves.
The royals were at the centre of a storm this week after infuriating local residents, when they began illegal construction work on the public beach to lay down a huge concrete slab in the sand.
It is not exactly clear what the slab is intended for, but it is presumed to be linked to the fact that the beach, which is only accessible via an underpass, will be entirely handed over to the Saudis during their stay.
Needless to say local beach goers weren't impressed with the construction.
"Last Friday between midday and 2pm they laid down a concrete slab by the tunnel and put barriers around it," one resident told the newspaper. We can't enjoy an idyllic place like this with all this dust and noise.
"Workers even told one woman to make the most of [the beach] now, because soon she wouldn't be able to access it."
When the mayor of Vallauris Michelle Salucki found out about the works she called the police who sere sent to stop the construction and make sure that access through the tunnel was open.
Local authorities did confirm that the beach will remain closed to the public during the impending visit of the Saudi royals.
Philippe Castanet the sub-prefect of the nearby town of Grasse told Nice Matin that the work had started prematurely while talks were still taking place over how best to ensure security was tight for the visit of the royals.
More talks with representatives of the Saudis are to take place on Thursday.
Castanet however, said that security had to be tight for the upcoming visit, and that meant 'the public beach should be totally closed off to the public for the entire stay of the family".
He added that the beach would be given back to the public as soon as possible.
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When members of the Saudi royal family comes to town, security will always be tight.
So tight, in fact, that they want the beach of Mirandole, in the town of Vallauris - where they own a property - all to themselves.
The royals were at the centre of a storm this week after infuriating local residents, when they began illegal construction work on the public beach to lay down a huge concrete slab in the sand.
It is not exactly clear what the slab is intended for, but it is presumed to be linked to the fact that the beach, which is only accessible via an underpass, will be entirely handed over to the Saudis during their stay.
Needless to say local beach goers weren't impressed with the construction.
"Last Friday between midday and 2pm they laid down a concrete slab by the tunnel and put barriers around it," one resident told the newspaper. We can't enjoy an idyllic place like this with all this dust and noise.
"Workers even told one woman to make the most of [the beach] now, because soon she wouldn't be able to access it."
When the mayor of Vallauris Michelle Salucki found out about the works she called the police who sere sent to stop the construction and make sure that access through the tunnel was open.
Local authorities did confirm that the beach will remain closed to the public during the impending visit of the Saudi royals.
Philippe Castanet the sub-prefect of the nearby town of Grasse told Nice Matin that the work had started prematurely while talks were still taking place over how best to ensure security was tight for the visit of the royals.
More talks with representatives of the Saudis are to take place on Thursday.
Castanet however, said that security had to be tight for the upcoming visit, and that meant 'the public beach should be totally closed off to the public for the entire stay of the family".
He added that the beach would be given back to the public as soon as possible.
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