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Paphos
Roadworks
cause
local
business
closure
The
recent
roadworks
in
Paphos
are
causing
local
businesses
serious
problems
in
trading
operations,
causing
temporary
closure.
Sirpa
Jukarainen,
owner of
Sandalwood
Beautiful
Indian
Products,
Agias
Kiriakis
Street,
Kato
Paphos
states
“my
takings
have
dropped
to zero
since
the
disruption
of these
road
works,
all the
fine
dust has
destroyed
my soft
furnishing
products
on
display
and I
have
suffered
serious
breathing
difficulties
as a
result.”
In a
personal
interview
with the
Mail she
continued
to say
“I have
wanted
to close
and if
it had
not been
for my
regular
customers
giving
me
support
in their
attempt
to climb
over
dangerous
walkways
to get
to my
shop, I
would
have.
The
crossroads
Pafias
Afroditis
and
Agias
Kyriakias
were
both
closed
at one
point,
leaving
no
access
to my
shop.
During
the last
two and
half
months,
these
vital
link
roads
have
been
closed
and
opened
constantly,
sometimes
even on
the same
day.”
Mrs.
Jukarainen
saw her
Lawyer
to
discuss
compensation
and was
informed
that
there
was no
law in
Cyprus
upon
which
she
could
seek it,
other
than
make an
attempt
for
court
proceedings
for
damages
after
completion
on 3rd
August,
which
will
take
infinite
time and
expense.
On the
27th
April
2007, a
formal
letter
from
Lacovou
Brothers
(Constructions)
Ltd, 2
Socratous
Street,
Larnaca,
was
received
by
businesses
within
the
vicinity
stating;
“the
road
works in
Pafias
Afrodites,
Minoos
Agias
Kyriakis
and
Agiou
Antoniou
streets
will
commence
3rd of
May 2007
and will
be
completed
in three
months.
Late
June one
of the
construction
company’s
representatives
came to
the site
for
general
inspection.
Mrs.
Jukarainen
in
outrage
claims
“what
did
happen
was the
‘big
boys’ of
the
company
were
here
last
month
and I
asked
them not
to block
again
both
door
ways
into my
shop.
The
answer
was; you
little
lady go
back to
your
shop, we
do
whatever
we want
to, if
we want
to block
your
entrances
to your
shop we
will,
now go
so we
men can
do the
real
work.”
Her
endeavours
to
contact
Project
Manager
Constantinos
Papoutsas
and
consulting
Paphos
Municipality
Mr. S.
Savva to
attend
the site
and
discuss
the
matter
have
been to
no
avail.
“I have
been
infinitely
telephoning,
leaving
messages
for a
call-back,
but they
never
respond
to my
plea, I
can only
assume
that
their
plan for
major
road
works
during
the
height
of the
tourist
season
has been
a bad
decision
and I am
sure
they are
inundated
with
complaints
from
local
businesses
as a
result.
I had
greater
trade in
the
winter
months
which
are
often
off-season.”
Suffering
from the
same
consequences
in a
significant
drop in
trade is
Aresti
Kouridi,
owner of
the
Paradise
Supermarket,
Pafias
Afrothitis
Street,
Kato
Paphos.
He
clearly
states
“I am
closing.
After
three
months
of
continual
works
outside
my shop
and now
information
from the
workmen
that a
further
three
months
is
necessary,
which
doubles
the
original
time
plan, I
can no
longer
sit here
all day
long
waiting
for
customers
who
cannot
gain
access
by foot
or car.”
He
continued
to say
that
Petrinos
Bar
opposite
his shop
was
newly
owned by
British
people
who
often
closed
as a
result
of the
roadworks.
In am
impromptu
interview
with
tourists
around
the
site,
Peter
and
Karen
Shirley
from
Liverpool
stated
“we were
recommended
to come
to
Paphos
for our
annual
holiday
and
informed
that
local
walking
within
the town
would be
pleasurable,
but with
all
these
road
works we
cannot
even
gain
secure
access,
it has
destroyed
our
holiday
and we
are
planning
an early
return.
What we
find
hard to
believe
is why
the CTO
and
Cypriot
Government
would
plan
such a
large
scale
project
in prime
tourist
season
when the
local
economy
relies
on this
seasonal
industry.”
This
type of
complaint
has been
communicated
to local
Restaurants
and Bars
who have
seen a
low in
business
with
tourists
often
complaining
of
dangerous
access
which is
seemingly
conflicting
with the
CTO
plans to
increase
tourism.
Utility
supplies
have
been cut
off with
no prior
notice
and
exposed
pipes
cause
inevitable
dangers.
The
local
church
St
Paul’s
Pillar,
Kato
Paphos
is
amongst
one of
the most
popular
for
marriages,
with
couples
arriving
from
Britain
with
large
wedding
parties
to be
faced
with
building
works
and
insecure
passage-ways.
Andrie
Laourie,
who owns
Kyra
Frosini
in
Pafias
Afrothitis
Street,
Kato
Paphos
has
recently
undergone
treatment
in
Nicosia
for
breast
cancer.
“I
returned
to find
my
popular
ladies’
only
Kafeneio
virtually
hidden
behind
road
work
rubble.”
Consulting
with the
local
Mare,
who she
knows
personally
proved
superficial,
he could
provide
no
immediate
comfort
as to
the
finalisation
of the
works,
though
agreed
to make
further
endeavours
on her
behalf.
“I could
not wait
to
return
to my
Ladies’
only
Kafeneio
after my
surgery
and the
treatment
in
Nicosia;
it has
always
been a
tranquil
spot for
me and
my
customers.
If I had
envisaged
this
reception,
I may
have
decided
to go on
a long
holiday
and
close.”
What has
infuriated
local
businesses
who are
of the
same
corporate
opinion,
is that
why are
major
road
works
taking
place in
the
height
of the
tourist
season,
surely
the
project
should
have
been
started
in the
months
when
often
businesses
are
seasonally
closed.
Answers
are
inconclusive
and
currently
under
discussion
with the
Secretary
of the
Municipality
who at
present
has no
comment,
pending
further
investigation.
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