SEVENTY-five per cent of people asked want Poseidonos Avenue in Kato Paphos to remain permanently closed to traffic.
A straw poll of 50 pedestrians in the area, consisting of locals, Cypriots from other towns, and tourists, showed 75 per cent of those asked hoped the seafront road would remain closed.
“It’s so much better like this,” said 64-year-old Paphos resident Andreas Constantinides. “Now is holiday time, and I feel as if I’m on the Italian Riviera. There are happy people walking about; it’s European, and I much prefer it this way .It would be better if there were places to sit, and some trees to break up the bareness, but it’s so much better without all that traffic.”
Shop owners have been continually voicing their opposition to the road closure, and many directed their anger at four local deputies, who visited them on Wednesday. They also bombarded the Mayor of Paphos, Savvas Vergas, with their opposition to the road closure.
Vergas confirmed it was initially the plan to open the road to one-way traffic. But following a recent visit of Nicosia officials responsible for handing out permits needed to open the road to traffic, the situation is unclear.
Their collective opinion recommended that the newly upgrade area of Poseidonos Avenue could not open to traffic, as this would pose a dangerous threat to pedestrians. This is because there aren’t any kerbs or barriers to separate the traffic from the passers-by.
“I wasn’t sure about all this open space before,” said Miriam Parvaneh, “but it’s grown on me. I think it’s very nice to be able to see all the way across to the castle, and there’s so much room to move around.”
She added, “the visitors will really like it. Cypriots are just lazy and don’t like to walk anywhere. They are too dependent on their cars. That’s why so many of them are getting fat,” she laughed.
Alberta Sanchez agrees. “I am on holiday in Paphos, and I decided to come and visit the castle and have lunch in the harbour today.
“It’s really nice to walk all the way along beside the sea. There’s a lot of room to move here and I’ve seen many families with their children and small babies. I think it’s important for every town to have something like this promenade. It’s good for families, and nice to stop off to look at shops, or have a coffee.”
But not everyone was so impressed. “I think it’s a bloody mess,” said British resident Frank Palmer. “It’s a God-awful sight, with nothing here. It’s so empty, and there’s nowhere to sit and no plants to look at. They’re making a total mess of Paphos, and stripping away its soul.”
Surprisingly, two groups have emerged from the recent conflict in the area. Those shop owners in favour of opening the road, and those who want it to stay pedestrianised.
“I don’t want to give my name as I’m really tired of this situation,” said one restaurant owner. “But I think it looks much nicer here, and I think the owners who want to open the area to traffic again are crazy.
“They’ re not thinking correctly. We have to give it time here, and wait until September when this part of the project will be completed. There are many more people here now, walking along, enjoying the view, and the experience; and they’re not in a hurry.
“Revenue will go up, I’m sure. We have to educate some Cypriots that it’s good to walk, and just because cars aren’t allowed here, it doesn’t mean people won’t come. To be honest, my trade is up a little on last year.”
Yesterday, another meeting took place between restaurant and café owners and local Members of Parliament. The outcome was a decision to press the council of Paphos to reopen the road to traffic.
Until now, the mayor has said that a final decision as to the fate of the road would be made in September.
“There is another solution,” a source told the Cyprus Mail: “to open the road to through traffic during the day, and to close it at night, to enable the pedestrians to fully enjoy the area. This seems like a good compromise to me, and a solution for both sides.”
Meanwhile vehicles have been redirected through small residential roads in Kato Paphos, which were not built for heavy traffic.
“It’s a nightmare,” said local resident Andri Koulis. “We can’t sleep properly because of the noise. I hope they open the road or make proper arrangements to take the traffic flow away from residential areas of Kato Paphos, and give us some peace.”
