The shopkeepers of the provinces of Larnaca and Famagusta, members of POVEK, expressed their strong opposition to the construction of the Metropolis Mall in Larnaca yesterday, during a public hearing held by the Council for the Study of Deviations at the Cultural Center of Agios Georgios Kon.
The public hearing was attended by the investor of the Mall Kyriakos Anastasiadis, owner of the South African company Acsion Ltd, affected residents, representatives of public services, Larnaca City Councilors and more than 100 owners of small shops and businesses.
Also present at the hearing were the Metropolitan of Kiti Chrysostomos, the accountant of the Archdiocese and priests of the church of Agios Georgios Kontos, since the Mall will be built on ecclesiastical land, between KEN Larnaca and the GSZ Stadium. The land has been granted with a long-term lease agreement by the Diocese of Kiti to the company Acsion Ltd, while the development has secured a positive view from the Municipal Council of Larnaca
In his statements, Hermes Klokkaris, Chairman of the Deviation Study Council "today we are here in Larnaca to study an application of the Church of Agios Georgios Kontos for the creation of a Mall in Larnaca. This is the first application for a Mall in Larnaca and the current procedure is the public hearing for granting or for evaluating an application for granting a Planning Permit in derogation based on the Law on Urban Planning and Spatial Planning ".
He added that "this procedure is provided by law and for its conduct there are relevant Regulations. The Regulations concerning the derogations are a public document, we work with them, and the conduct of the public hearing is governed by a relevant order of the Minister of Interior ".
According to Mr. Klokkaris, "the 5-member Deviation Study Council is here in quorum and our purpose is to hear, to clarify some things, where there are questions and there is transparency in the process because it concerns a great development hence the public hearing. The Council will then make a proposal to the Council of Ministers. " He clarified that "the Council is advisory to the Council of Ministers and does not decide. So we are here to listen, to feel the pulse of the region, to clarify some things and to suggest to the Council of Ministers what is appropriate for us to be done in this case ".
Asked by a journalist whether the derogation is required because there are issues of urban zone and coverage factor, Mr. Klokkaris answered positively and noted that "essentially the request is a derogation in terms of use because in this area the specific use is not allowed. "Higher education institutions and hospitals and hospitals are allowed, so such a development must be considered in the context of a derogation."
Regarding the coverage rate, Mr. Klokkaris said that "this exceeds the coverage rate of the area but from what I understand, based on the corrected plans that have come recently, this issue is regulated."
POVEK Larnaca-Famagusta: "The Mall will be the final blow"
The Secretary of POVEK Larnaca - Famagusta Nikos Stamatis stated that "the Mall does not offer anything and the only thing that benefits is the owner of the business and the one who rents the land. "Essentially, the operation of a shopping center in Larnaca will give the final blow to the small and medium-sized shops that are left".
He added that "those small and medium-sized stores that are left between wear and tear, after the economic crisis that hit Cyprus, will be completed by the creation of the Mall in Larnaca."
Famagusta shopkeepers: "Businesses will close"
For her part, Maria Moleski Hadjichristou from Ayia Napa, President of the Famagusta Shopkeepers, stated that "we are very much against the Mall because too many small and medium-sized businesses will be affected. Many small and medium enterprises will close and we saw it when the Malls took place in Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol ". He noted that "there was decentralization, the center was closed and the same will happen with Larnaca but also with the tourist areas, because it is very close, since in about half an hour the buses will arrive" at the Mall.
He added that they will essentially put people in, bring them here (to the Mall) and all the small businesses we want to survive will close. We are giving jobs to too many families and all of them will lose their jobs "since the small shops will close one by one.
According to Ms. Hadjichristou, the officials "keep telling us to present (small shops) the culture of Cyprus", he wondered how they expect "small shops to endure this thing" and noted that with the operation of the Mall in Larnaca "there will definitely be a big impact »To the shopkeepers.
It is noted that according to the urban application, the development concerns the construction of a shopping center with an area of 40 thousand square meters with shops, supermarket, leisure and entertainment venues and cinemas.
The building will consist of a ground floor that will include 100 shops, clothing, footwear, children, sports, visuals, electronic games area, cinema halls, restaurants, cafes, playground and more, supermarket, department store and parking. In the basement will be located parking space and storage spaces.
Source: KYPE