Pomorie council wants soundproofing for the metal sheds at the Ravda wastewater treatment plant, plus an extra noise barrier fence, mayor Ivan Aleksiev said. Residents of Aheloy are unhappy about the noise.

Aleksiev met residents in Aheloy last Wednesday, 4 November, at an outreach session where no prior sign-up was needed.

More on this story: Pomorie mayor Ivan Alexiev to meet residents in Aheloy on 4 November, no appointment needed

The plant stands on Aheloy land and is run by Burgas Water and Sewerage (ViK Burgas). It also serves Ravda, Sunny Beach and other settlements. The machines in the sheds are loudest in the evening, when the town is quieter. In summer, when the plant is under heavier load, it is even worse.

Residents have sent many complaints, and checks have been made. Measurements showed noise within the legal limits, but residents remain unhappy. Aleksiev said the sheds have no soundproofing while the machines inside are running. "It is neither a complicated technical fix nor that expensive," he told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR). The council has sent complaints to the regional development ministry and to ViK Burgas.

The mayor also spoke about the coast at the meeting. The sea has washed away much of the beach in front of the campsite and the Midia complex, and erosion is also visible at the mouth of the Aheloy river. The council pressed for action, and the regional development ministry opened a procedure for preliminary studies and a concept design for coastal protection. The expanded expert council picked one of three options. It provides for groynes to limit erosion and restore the beach.

"We managed to convince the state that this is an extremely important project for Aheloy and for the Bulgarian Black Sea coast as a whole," Aleksiev told BNR. The coast is state property, so the money for the work has to come from the state. The mayor said the council will talk to the ministry to get the coastal protection built.

Aleksiev also toured the building sites in Aheloy. The first stage of the boat mooring is finished. Funding for the second stage has been approved, and the procedure to choose a contractor has yet to end. Aheloy has about 30 fishing boats, and the number is slowly growing. Local fishermen will get waterproof clothing through the Local Fisheries Action Group.

The chitalishte (community cultural centre) has been renovated under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with insulation and a new facade. The council gave extra money for repairs inside. It will be officially reopened soon.

The school has also been renovated, and a new gym is being built there because it has never had a sports hall of its own. Late deliveries held up the work, but the structural parts have now arrived and the gym is expected to be ready soon.

The outreach sessions are Aleksiev's plan to visit every settlement in the municipality so people can raise their problems on the spot. The next one is in Kableshkovo on Thursday, 12 November, at 10:30am.