Changes for the better or not

[71 Trans Am]

Do you think that some of the changes made this year around the Paphos area were for the better or not, We have been coming to the area for 20 years or more now and we planned on retiring to Paphos. We have seen many changes - Some good some bad but this year a lot has changed - Is it just the new Mayor making his mark or something else ? A couple of examples - We go to various places when over and often call in at the Pegasus pub at the triangle - This year his seating and table area has been reduced by half - The same with the crocodile pub next door - If they have over stepped their area and are committing a crime i can understand why they would be told to get back to within their boundaries but this is vacant space and they have both been there for years (since 1985) and causing no harm to anyone and now they are struggling to make a living and i know that one of them is still recovering from the massive haircut given to them by the banks. Also on the same plot a massive fig tree that must have been there for 50+ years has been removed - All signage for the Chemist and the Temperature gauge sign have been removed. What i have noticed walking around is that you no longer seem to walk into sign posts on the pavement as they also seem to have been removed and trees that were out of control have gone and generally speaking the pavements are a lot more open and brighter but at what cost. I have to admit that some of the clutter on the pavements was sometimes annoying but that is paphos and we loved the ridiculous way they do things, like 12 inch high curbs great if your a fitness fanatic
What do you permanent residents think ? have you noticed changes this year and what is your view?

[ApusApus]

Largely agree with the comments so far & for me personally I think the town looks a lot better for the changes made!


Shane

[Dominic]

I remember a few years ago a holiday home owner in Geroskipou making the same kind of complaint on Cyprus Living about the large-scale changes/improvements which were being made at the time to the village square in G'pou. It looks great there now.

Couldn't agree more. We love Geroskipou, especially that square.

[PolemIan]

Overall better. TOTK was a distaster in trend of implementation, but you drive through there now, especially off season without being embarrassed by the scruffy state. As you drive around you can see people slowly starting to invest as the general infrastructure improves. Hopefully that will happens in the old town as well. There has also has been a definite attempt to repair some knackered road surfaces over the last 18 months so, I know a number of friends cheered when the road from Mesa Chorio through Anavargos was resurfaced last year, that was a real test of the fillings before then!

[WHL]

What everyone has to remember is, Cyprus has just been in a financial disaster, and the cost of these projects are astronomical, so well done to everyone who managed to get these improvements off the ground, and completed.

[Poppy]

Strange isn't it how everybody thinks they know better when projects are starting. TOTK rd is a prime example - no one wanted it, many protested about it but I think nearly everyone now agrees that it is a great improvement.

[William Morris]

A big change for the better.

If you compare Paphos to Limassol and Larnaca they are like chalk and cheese.

Much better infrastructure in Limassol and Larnaca because they have been there longer.

The roads and pavements in Paphos are appalling.

The town needs to continue to develop each year. This can only be done if the money is available. Taxes need to be paid by all the residents to pay for the improvements.

I would think that at least another 10 years, if not more.

[JimX]

And yet William Pafos was once the capital of Cyprus, what went wrong? if indeed it has gone wrong, I preferred the old town the way it once was, a matter of opinion of course.

[Poppy]

You've forgotten one Lloyd!! The basement car park was going to be flooded!! Havn't heard yet that it has been!!

[Dominic]

People always hate the thought of change. Look at all the fuss there was over the chunnel.

[71 Trans Am]

Very interesting and logical replies - I have to agree about the coastal path where else in the world has such a thing been made and it is very well used from the very early hours until late at night - Do you think anything will be done about the large amount of abandoned building projects which are all over the town including the improved areas also abandoned hotel projects which are a blight on the much improved buildings around them,

[Varky]

IMHO Generally the changes in Paphos centre are an improvement. However, everything is now very WHITE which at this time of the year reflects not only the sun but also the heat. You can feel the heat bouncing off the pavements. A bit of colour and black marble here and there would have broken up the dazzling effect. Just my opinion.

[Yioula]

The Old Town had become rather run down since the building of the Paphos Mall.......it has improved some areas, but I feel it has taken away the authenticity of the old town.....,,I suspect not many members on this forum remember the old town some 30 +years ago or other area of Paphos and how mass developments has completely changed the landscape of the area........but Paphos and surrounding areas did have a very special charm then

[PaphosAL]

Let's not forget that most of Kato Paphos was expanded in a big hurry after the 1974 invasion. To the extent that many antiquities (tombs etc, some thousands of years old), were simply buried under new concrete roads and hotels at that time..

Sad, but true. AL

[Royal]

It's all about achieving a balance between old and new whilst making the most of the character of a place isn't it?

To use an analogy, in the UK, there are a number of beautiful quaint villages with chocolate box type cottages adorning them, the village green and the old church at the centre. Many of these cottages are owned as holiday homes by wealthy people who work in London Mon-Fri then go to these villages for peace and quiet at the weekend. Sadly, however, many of these people are resistant to any change within 'their' village and consequently new affordable houses do not get built and modern shops, schools and other essential facilities are refused planning permission and the village is not allowed to grow. As a consequence, many of the children of the villagers who live there full time end up leaving the village in order to simply find a place to live. That's a pity and all because the NIMBYs want to retain the 'old' village which many of them don't even live in most of the time.

Polis centre is run down and could seriously do with the same sort of makeover as Paphos old town, which I think has been very positive. I would go as far as to say that many of the old (now dilapidated) TC properties which have deteriorated so badly over the last 50 years should be compulsorily purchased and either torn down or sold of for refurbishment or redevelopment.

[PaphosAL]

But hang on, Royal. The TC area above Paphos old town (Moutallos I think it's called) was all let out to GC refugees fleeing from the north in the 1974 Turkish invasion, for peppercorn rents.

Their only obligation being to pay their water, leccy and council bills, plus to maintain the property in a good state of repair. Ready for an eventual settlement and agreement, when GCs and TCs alike could return to their original homes. I've strolled around this area a few times (usually awaiting repairs on the old Toyota twin cab truck) and it's beautiful!

How come Polis didn't adopt a similar policy with TC owned properties there, I wonder? Especially considering the number of GCs who fled for their lives across the Green Line nearby at that time?

Cheers- AL

[J B]

I have to agree about the coastal path where else in the world has such a thing been made and it is very well used from the very early hours until late at night

Have they ever fixed the lights there?

[ApusApus]

I have to agree about the coastal path where else in the world has such a thing been made and it is very well used from the very early hours until late at night

Have they ever fixed the lights there?

What lights!


Shane

[J B]

What lights!

Not sure if there should be a wink after that ...

The lights that they installed along the coastal path from K Paphos (in the direction of the airport) - that don't work!

[Lofos-5]

The lights that they installed along the coastal path from K Paphos (in the direction of the airport) - that don't work!

They have been replaced with lights above ground level now.

A.