A PAPHOS transport company has erected a huge illegal metal structure which not only breaks the law but which could see Paphos falling foul of UNESCO stipulations, according to officials.
Local authorities are outraged at OSYPA Ltd-The Paphos Transport Organisation Ltd- actions and have already filed a complaint at the district court.
Deputy mayor of Paphos, Makis Roussis, told the Cyprus Mail: “Local bus company OSYPA, have built a huge metal structure in a space designated for the UNESCO protected archaeological site containing the mosaics in Kato Paphos and we are all very angry about it.”
The bus company has apparently built on top of the parking facilities in a sensitive area without any of the required permits. The area forms part of a wider region which is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world’s heritage. The mosaics which are situated next door are rare and are widely regarded as some of the best examples to be found in the world.
“The structure is enormous, made of metal and is unlicensed. There was no planning approval for it and it is on the parking area which was appropriated from a private owner twenty years ago. The mosaics are just next door and the area is all part of a UNESCO protected site,” he said.
“The land was appropriated by the government for a specific reason and now it is being illegally used for something else. This is not acceptable and changes the scope of the reasons for purchase,” Roussis noted.
According to the deputy mayor, the antiquities department is also up in arms over the move, and along with the municipality of Paphos, they have taken the Paphos bus company to court.
“I’m not sure how long these things take legally,” said Roussis, “but we want this monstrosity to be taken down immediately.”
According to authorities, the construction appeared last weekend.
The company had recently constructed a small building with a seating area for customers and timetables, close to the pavement but this new addition stretches far into the parking area itself.
Despite repeated attempts to contact OSYPA Ltd, they were unavailable for comment.
