Filenews 14 January 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The reaction and anger in Paphos for the attempted changes in the land area of the port of Kato Paphos has escalated in recent days.
The construction of iron structures in front of the stone buildings of the pedestrian street in the land area of the port, caused a uprising of institutions and citizens, since the completion of the iron additions gave the opportunity to many visitors of the area to understand the projects that are already at an advanced stage.
Municipal councillors, businessmen of the area and ordinary citizens express from today strong objections, considering that the execution of works to add a dining area in front of the shops, was done in a way that is not in any way consistent with the traditional character of the area and spoils the idyllic landscape of the port.
Businessmen operating in the port of Kato Paphos, told "F" today that their objections and disagreements have nothing to do with the intention of the Municipality of Paphos to increase the usable space for commercial exploitation.
"On the contrary, any addition of a project in the area we consider to add to the value of all businesses in the harbour," they pointed out. ''However, this particular ironwork is an unthinkable addition. Neither the material, nor the constructional part, nor the area it occupies, are consistent with the picturesque character of the port. An area that is the showcase of Paphos and the face of tourism in Cyprus".
The protesters stress that apart from the irksome addition in relation to the traditional environment, these iron structures will also create significant problems with the accumulation of heat during the summer months. They cite the corresponding redevelopment efforts that had been promoted three decades ago and which the universal and angry reaction of the whole of Paphos, contributed to the cancellation, with the demolition of even then much larger concrete structures that had been added to the traditional warehouses of the area.
"Although the land area is the responsibility of the Municipality of Paphos", they say, "co-competent state or semi-state bodies in the harbour, such as the Department of Antiquities, the Port Authority and the Department of Fisheries, should intervene in order to make any improvement in a way appropriate for this special area".
