Land owner closes busy Chlorakas ‘cut through’

[memory man]

THE owner of a piece of land used as popular ‘cut through’ road in Chlorakas in Paphos has closed the road to through traffic, according to local authorities.

The road, Evaggelou Floraki, has been used as a main artery connecting the coastal road with the village for years, and hundreds of residents and visitors use it every day.

The move came after local residents lodged a petition with the community board to request that the road be given a proper tarmac surface to stop copious amounts of dust being thrown up caused by vehicles.

The dusty ‘road’, which is short in length, was first closed to traffic around a week or so ago, using traffic bollards and tape. Residents say that these were removed and the road was being used again, however, huge rocks have now been placed at each end to prevent any access at all.

A sign has also been added noting that it is private property.

A spokesman for Chlorakas community board said that the road closure was undertaken by the owner and confirmed that the move is within their rights as a land owner.

She said that there are no plans to reopen it.

“The owners have now forbidden any vehicles to pass and they have the right to do so,” she told the Cyprus Mail on Monday, adding, “It will now stay this way.”

The move has met with a mixed response from residents of the area. Those living in a small row of houses close to the road pleased with the outcome, whilst other residents are not.

Resident Andy Thompson said that the road would be an asset if tarmacked, as they had requested, but said that the owner wouldn’t let anyone do this.

“We put in a petition as we were fed up with all of the dust being blasted up from idiots speeding up and down it, especially at weekends,” he said.

However, he said that as the road has been closed, they are feeling happier as the area is much quieter and better for their health.

“Two children living in this row of houses suffer from asthma and the dust was terrible for them. It was also making our gardens and houses covered with thick layers of dust, it was disgusting,” he said.

However, other residents from the area are not so happy, with some livid that the ‘handy’ road has been closed.

One resident, who wished to remain unnamed, said that he would be taking the matter up with the council said that these ‘sort of actions’ have a negative effect on the community and should be rectified.

“It’s a nightmare and roads being closed on a whim shouldn’t be allowed to happen. There is a road either side of the part which is a dust track. The council should purchase the land and properly surface it, there are numerous developments in the area and it’s a massive inconvenience for people having to find other alternate and lengthier routes,” he said.

However, the community board stressed that the piece of land has never been designated as road, despite it being used as such for years and even though the road each side of it is properly tarmacked.

“It was being used illegally,” she said.

She noted that any comments, complaints or suggestions about roads in the area should be made to the Chlorakas community board in person.

source:- http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/06/26/land- ... rakas-cut/