Pafos Live 24 August 2024
A memorandum with 13 issues that need to be addressed immediately was handed over during today's meeting by the Mayor of East Pafos, Nikos Palios, to the president of the Green Movement – Citizens' Cooperation, George Perdikis. The memorandum notes the issues of development in the region, environmental issues, issues of implementation of the Reform of TA, utilization of the old KEN and others.
In his statements, Mr. Perdikis after the end of the meeting pledged that as far as their responsibility and that of the Provincial Committee of Ecologists-Citizens' Cooperation are concerned, they will do everything they can to support the Municipality in this difficult period, the transitional period that is being transformed into a larger Municipality covering a larger area. Mr. Perdikis reminded that they had supported as a Movement the request of the residents of Geroskipou to remain a separate Municipality, adding that they have a responsibility, duty and pleasure to support the Municipality of East Pafos to achieve its distinct autonomous course.
Mr. Perdikis noted that the requests submitted by the East Pafos Municipality specifically concern the East Pafos Municipality but also the new Municipalities as they have been formed with the new TA reform plan. There are, he said, many issues that need to be addressed.
Regarding the priorities that the Movement will give to the demands of the Municipality of East Pafos, Mr. Perdikis raised the economic issue. He said, "the opportunity must be given to the new municipalities to operate the new financial tools, to acquire the staffing, the staff and to be able to have the appropriate receipts, giving the good and correct services to the citizens, so that the goal of better services can be achieved at less possible cost."
That, he said, is a big gamble. Mr. Perdikis also referred to the coastal road that affects a Natoura area, the archaeological site that is threatened to build a hotel on a plot of land of the Archdiocese, the issues of animal management, and a very big issue that is the implementation of the "Pay as You Throw" system, which in a few months will be mandatory, noting that in the Pafos area there is a problem in its implementation.
He added that their fears were confirmed, recalling a statement by the chairman of the Committee on the Environment, Mr. Theopemptos, who clearly said that he doubts the applicability of the legislation. He also noted, with regret, as he said, that municipalities and society are not prepared to implement this European directive.
The Mayor of East Pafos, Nikos Palios, initially thanked Mr. Perdikis for the interest he shows in the Municipality and invited him to strengthen TA's efforts to promote their demands that concern the Municipality, such as the issue of the Operation of the Regional Medical Center Christoforos Neophytou Hadjilambris, saying that as TA they expect its full staffing by the SHSO since it is currently underfunctioning.
Among other things, the Health Center was designed to include, as he said, three general practice clinics, a dental office, a mental health clinic, a maternity and child protection area, a wound change area, an administrative services office and underground parking and storage spaces. The offer of the Health Centre to the woman of Pafos is important, as after modification of the plans, a Mammography Centre has been created for which there is a suggestion to place a radiologist and an ultrasound machine for complete examinations, he added.
In his memorandum, Mr. Palios raised the issue of the removal / Relocation of the Acheleia Livestock Station of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment located near the residential area and Antiquities at the location "Moulia" on a plot of the Archdiocese, stating that the Municipal Council proceeded to file an appeal against the planning permit PAF/00361/2017, concerning the construction of a CONDOS type hotel unit on a coastal plot, property of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus.
The City Council, due to the great archaeological and historical value of the findings, insists, as he said, on continuing excavations throughout the plot, with the aim of fully revealing the monument, saving it and, ultimately, highlighting it.
He then referred to the delay of the Department of Environment for the implementation of the waste reduction program of coastal hotel units and related mass waste production sites, the problems from the implementation of the Sorting System at Source and Separate Collection of Recyclable and Organic Waste, but also the problems of the implementation of the "Pay as You Throw" System.
He also raised the issue of amending the Swimming Pools Law in order to solve the many problems that exist.
Regarding the Local Government Reform, Mr. Palios noted that in order to be able to serve your citizens and offer quality services, you must also have staff.
Unfortunately, in recent years we have been underperforming and we are still waiting to receive the approvals of the competent Ministries to be staffed, he said, adding that the staff of the Municipality makes superhuman efforts and performs duties beyond its service plan.
He also said that the responsibility of maintenance, cleanliness and free use of roads of primary importance is a responsibility that has been transferred to the municipalities and requires huge amounts. The new bill (Municipalities Law 2022) provides that the transfer of new responsibilities will be covered by a transfer of an equal amount of state resources. We are still waiting for what will be done on this issue, he added.
Regarding the development of the old Geroskipou KEN, Mr. Palios said that the Municipality proceeded with the purchase by Bank of Cyprus Ltd of the land occupied by the old silk mill-former Paphos KEN (26757sq.m.).
The plot is just 300m. north of Geroskipou Square and 500m. from the Limassol-Paphos motorway. Within its boundaries there are seven listed buildings of various sizes (industrial buildings and colonial buildings). The largest area of the plot has not been built on.
For some time now, he continued, a reflection has begun to develop on what use or uses should be given to this land, so as to lead to the reuse of an area of particular importance for Geroskipou, a property of high added value.
Among the ideas that have been submitted is the hosting of university faculty(s).
Finally, Mr. Palios referred to the problems that East Pafos Municipality has to face due to the shortcomings of the Dogs Law, the Operation of the Green Point of Koloni and the extension of its opening hours, as well as the amendment of the Immovable Property (Joint Buildings – Management Committees) as well as the issue of illegal vehicle storage operations around Pafos Airport.
The meeting, he said, took place at the request of the Green Movement – Citizens' Cooperation and expressed his satisfaction with Mr. Perdikis' interest. Finally, he hoped that Mr Perdiki would make the appropriate interventions to the decision-making centres.
