The problems faced by the residents of the Ayia Napa Settlement were recently discussed by the Mayor Giannis Karousos, inaugurating a series of meetings with residents of various parishes and areas of the Municipality.
A written announcement states that this first meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayor Christos Zannettou, members of the Municipal Committees "Improvement of Quality of Life and Citizens' Complaints" and "Development, Green and Land Port" and DISY MPs Famagusta Kyrochos Kyrias.
Welcoming the residents, Mr. Karousos expressed his satisfaction "for their mass attendance and for the fact that almost all the residents of the settlement responded positively to the call of the Municipality."
This was followed by an update on the strategic planning of the urban center, which includes the refugee settlement, on the basis of which a series of projects are planned to be carried out to upgrade the area. Among others, the conversion of the Medieval Monastery into a Museum space, the upgrade of Tefkrou Anthia, Giannaki Pappoulli and Dionysiou Solomou streets and the creation of an Environmental Park west of the center are included ".
Then "the residents submitted complaints and suggestions focusing mainly on the issue of nuisance and traffic congestion created by the one-way street of the center. They even suggested the change of direction of the one-way street of Tefkros Anthia and the conversion of Michael Kasialos street into a one-way street in the opposite direction ".
They also referred to "the lack and upgrading of existing parking spaces, the illegal use of sidewalks for parking purposes, issues of cleanliness and general tidiness of the settlement, the lack of lighting, the enrichment of greenery and the landscaping of the area in general."
Mayor Giannis Karousos informed the residents that “the services of the Municipality have prepared a plan based on which the general upgrade of the area will be promoted with the configuration of parking spaces where a specific space will be determined for each house, the reconstruction of canopies and the creation of a new parking lot. Michael Kasialou Street for visitors to the area. All the projects are expected to start in the next one to two months ".
Regarding the suggestion of the residents for the one-way street of Michael Kasialos, the Mayor "assured that he will raise the issue before the Traffic Police and the competent departments for study and evaluation of the proposal".
He also stated that "soon the institution of the Police - neighborhood observer will be put into operation to solve daily problems faced by the residents of the area and that meetings will be held on the spot for immediate solution of problems, by Municipal Councilors and members of the relevant Committees."
On behalf of the residents of the Settlement, the Chairman of the Committee Savvas Kirillou "thanked the Mayor and the Municipal Council for the interest shown in solving the various problems faced by the refugees - residents for a long time. He also expressed the belief that the cooperation that has started will be the beginning of a fruitful effort, which will result in the upgrading of the quality of life of the citizens of the settlement ".
For their part, the deputies "expressed their readiness to promote and solve the problems related to the responsibilities of the Government Departments, including the Department of Urban Planning and Housing".