Limassol, Cyprus. Coordinated efforts to address problems facing the wider urban area of Limassol were the focus of a meeting on Friday between the Limassol municipal council and district members of parliament. Municipal leaders outlined shared and local concerns affecting the municipalities in the area.
Meeting focuses on urban area challenges
During the meeting, attendees raised broad and specific issues faced by the municipalities led by Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis, Amathus mayor Kyriakos Xydias, Kourion mayor Pantelis Georgiou and Polemidia mayor Andros Theodorou.
Limassol mayor outlines priorities
Speaking at the meeting, Armeftis said Limassol was the city with the greatest development potential in Cyprus and continued to generate “wealth, jobs and host significant investments” that contributed “decisively” to the country’s economy. He said the city also faced daily challenges requiring decision-making, political will and close cooperation among institutions.
He said continuous and institutionalised communication with members of parliament was particularly important, adding that many issues affecting Limassol passed through the House of Representatives, parliamentary committees, parliamentary oversight, legislative initiatives and the promotion of decisions that could accelerate projects and reforms.
Armeftis said the city’s priorities included local government reform, the ongoing traffic problem and the need to increase state funding. He also expressed opposition to what he described as the state’s “urge to increase taxes”.
Transport and infrastructure priorities
Armeftis said the implementation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, stronger public transport, bus lanes, transfer stations, cycling infrastructure and green routes were “no longer options, but a necessity”.
He also stressed the need to swiftly continue major state infrastructure projects, including the northern bypass from Ypsonas to Yermasoyia and the connection of the coastal road with Franklin Roosevelt street. He further highlighted the need to create affordable housing and develop the western part of the city.
“[These] are projects that will determine the functioning of the city for the coming decades,” he said.
Amathus mayor raises autonomy concerns
Amathus mayor Kyriakos Xydias said the meeting laid the foundation for a joint effort to address the city’s problems and provide solutions to improve residents’ quality of life.
He criticised what he described as a lack of administrative and financial autonomy for local municipalities and said there had been attempts to “strangle” local government. He said the local government reform had shifted responsibilities without transferring resources.
