Filenews 3 January 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The Pafos District Administration aims to improve the quality of life of rural residents, to curb urbanization and to create conditions for new jobs. In this context, among others, projects are being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Interior, concerning the regeneration of community nuclei with paving and beautification of roads, improvements of facades of residences, the creation of exhibition regional centres with a specific theme for attracting special forms of tourism, the creation of places for the occupation of young people, as well as adults, and the creation of parks and excursion sites.
This is what the Prefect of Pafos, Mary Lambrou, says, speaking today to the "F", stressing that during the last few years, a number of projects were implemented in the province within this framework, while the planning and execution of many others in 2022 are in the works.
"Just a few examples of projects completed in recent years are the redevelopment of the Drousia core with an amount of about one million euros, the redevelopment of the core and the beautification of facades in Inia with an expense of €1.7 million, the creation of an Information Center for Environmental Data in Trachypedoula for €350,000, the regional Multipurpose Youth Engagement Center in Kathikas with an expense of €1.3 million, the Regional Educational Center of Agricultural Professions and Traditional Products in Koili with €1.7 million, the Multipurpose Center of The Third Age in Prodromio Polis Chrysochous at a cost of €2.3 million and several other remarkable projects".
The development expenditure of the District Administration of Pafos through the State Budget, with the corresponding contribution of the Community Councils, but also from the gradual absorption of funds from European Funds for co-financed projects, points out the Prefect of Pafos, is of the order of €15 million on average per year.
A significant amount, she adds, is allocated for the improvement and opening of roads under the jurisdiction of the Pafos District Administration, including rural roads.
"In the last four years we have built three modern bridges", says Mary Lambrou. "These are the bridges of Natas-Choletria, Natas-Episkopi and Kelokedaron-Zouripilli, at a cost of around €400,000 each, for connecting communities and for faster and safe movement of residents and farmers with their products, in the area of the rivers Xeros and Ezousa, especially during the winter season where flood flows occur."
In 2021, the Prefect of Pafos also states, the Regional Information Centre for BirdLife and Land Flora Akamas in Kathikas was completed, with an amount of €357,000, and the centre's equipment for interactive participation of visitors is progressing at this stage.
Also, in 2021, she observes, the second phase of the redevelopment of the core of Mesa Chorio was completed with an amount of approximately €455,000, the redevelopment of the core of the community of Lemona, for €190,000, the second phase of the Natas Park, with an expense of €218,000, while the Regional Museum of Paleontology and Akamas Geology in Pano Arodes is completed within days for more than half a million, as well as the landscaping of a park in Timi for the amount of €298,000.
"At the beginning of 2021, the redevelopment of the core of Phyti was also completed at the expense of €226,000 and the park with a pedestrian street in Choletria for €231,000. "
Announcing projects that will begin in 2022, the Prefect of Pafos mentions the maintenance of an old fountain in the community of Agia Varvara, the beautification of the core of Anarita, the second phase of paving roads in Kathikas, the redevelopment of the square and surrounding area of the Church of Chrysoimatousis Chlorakas, the conversion of a listed building in Arminou into an exhibition space / library, the redevelopment of the core of Koili, the creation of a park and an event space in Kritou Marottos, the second phase of the formation of the core of Konia and others.
80% increase in real estate acquisition
Regarding the acquisition of immovable property in Paphos by citizens of non-EU Member States, for which approvals are granted by the Office of the District Attorney of Pafos, there was a large percentage increase of 80%, reveals Ms. Lambrou:
"The applications for 2020 amount to 379, while for the current year to date they amount to 729 and most of them concern residential units/apartments. The large rate of increase is also due to the fact that applications for real estate are also being submitted by the British after Brexit."
Already in communities where works have been made, there is interest from expatriates for the preservation of their homes, while there is interest from local and foreign travellers for visits to centres / museums of special interest (such as the Akamas Museum of Rural Life in Drousia, the exhibition space of amphibians and reptiles in Neo Chorio and the Turtle Museum in Inia, which are now supplemented with exhibits, etc.). Attracting visitors will also benefit the local economy in other ways
Projects cover two annual budgets
Most of the major projects carried out in the Pafos district, stresses Mrs. Lambrou, are ongoing and cover two annual budgets, which is why there are projects underway from 2021 that are expected to be completed in 2022.
Such projects, she clarifies, are the redevelopment of Mandria square for the amount of about €910,00,0 of Agia Paraskevi square in Stroumbi for €595,000, the emergence of the traditional core of Lysos at an expense of €625,000, the formation and conversion of the old elementary school in Mesana into a Cultural Center at a cost of €373,000, the redevelopment of the core of Giolos at a cost of €592,000, the conversion of the building of the former SPE of Galataria into an Elderly Centre, the creation of sports facilities in an existing youth hostel in Trachypedoula with an amount of €430,000, the third phase of the redevelopment of Meteora Episkopi, for €372,000 and others.
"An important sector of our Office", says the Prefect of Pafos, "is also the Construction Sector. For example, for the current year we have received 579 applications for building permits and 186 applications for separation permits relating to the countryside and peri-urban areas. Several applications concern tourist developments and villas. Comparing the data for 2018 with the years 2019 and 2020, there is an increase in the submission of applications by 15%, while the data for 2021 so far are at the same level in 2018."
Housing plans for the revitalization of mountainous and disadvantaged areas, as well as specific rural areas, which are handled in consultation with the Ministry of Interior, Mary Lambrou stresses, offer financial incentives and support for beneficiaries to acquire housing in the countryside, and these are incentives that are constantly evaluated for possible improvements in order to curb urbanization.
