Agreement reached in Ostia beach battle

(ANSA) - Rome, April 17 - Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino convened the city government for the second time on Friday in Ostia, where he is temporarily serving as municipal chief following the resignation of former head Andrea Tassone in relation to the Mafia Capitale investigation into organized crime in the capital.
    When Marino took over the post last week, he declared that he intended to open the beaches to the public following the investigations into mafia involvement in the bathing establishments there by demolishing the entrances in a project that is being referred to informally as "bulldozers of legality".
    On Thursday however, Italy's regional administrative court ruled against this operation in an appeal by Federbalneari, the association representing the bathing establishments, and the beach access entrances that were opened to the public are now closed again by order of the court.
    Alfonso Sabelli, councillor for legality who has been delegated to the Ostia beachfront, said on Friday that an agreement had been reached with Federbalneari under which five of the entrances would be opened to the public next Monday, of which two are already open.
    "I believe that there's now the willingness on both sides to come to a shared solution in the best interest of the people, because no one wants to see wars, bulldozers, and soldiers (at Ostia)," Sabelli said.
    Federbalneari President Renato Papagni said, "Already for this year's beach season, a few walls will be substituted with hedges. We're going to meet on Tuesday with the (city) administration to determine where and how".