[Cyprus Times] The Committee discusses the revitalisation of Piale Pasha and the problems of managing shopping centres in refugee settlements. Refugee

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The Refugee Committee discusses the revitalization of Piale Pasha and the problems of managing shopping centres in refugee settlements Shopping centres in self-housing and refugee settlements /quote]

The landscaping of Piale Pasha Street in Larnaca and the problems identified in the management of shopping centres in refugee and self-housing settlements, discussed on Tuesday the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees.

The Mayor of Larnaca, Andreas Vyras, said in his statements that they presented as a municipality, at the invitation of the Committee, the various projects that they are planning concerning either the Turkish Cypriot quarter or the refugee settlements.

Main reference, he said, was made to the Piale Pasha Street project and specifically to the redevelopment of the facades of this well-known street, which, he said, is not only the facade of Larnaca, but of Cyprus in general since "it is the first image of the tourist when he lands in a plane at Larnaca airport".

He said it is a project which will involve the total repair of the facades of Piale Pasha, and a colour scheme based on the original architecture of the site "and will give a special and very beautiful look to this very important street of our city". The project, he added, is in the region of €1.1 million including VAT and will change the look of this area "where thousands of people walk."

The project covers the area from Larnaca Castle to where Piale Pasha ends and Tasou Mitsopoulos begins.

Vyras said that there will be a radical repair that will include doors, windows and repairs that will also improve the quality of life of citizens and residents of the area.

He said they also presented other projects related to refugee areas, such as the 'Mediterranean' park in the Turkish Cypriot quarter, which he said will enable artists who have gathered in the area to exhibit their works "and will beautify a huge open space that has remained unused for years."

The projects include a multi-purpose space to be created in the Tsiakkillerou refugee settlement, with a budget of around €1 million, which will include playgrounds, cafes and green spaces, he added. The works will be carried out through European programmes, he said.

The chairman of the commission, Nikos Ketteros, said in remarks after the meeting that the redevelopment of the facades of residential buildings on Piale Pasha Street "is a project that will change the face of the city in general".

He said bids for this project will be announced in two weeks and work is expected to begin in late September to early October.

"This demonstrates that when the relevant departments have the right political direction, they can be both quick and efficient," he added.

He said that the Mayor of Larnaca also informed them that the problem with the shacks opposite the Pancyprian Lyceum of Larnaca, which were operating as shops, has also been resolved, as the Municipality has reached an agreement with the owners for the remaining ones and they will be moved in the near future, so that the area can be beautified in the centre of Larnaca and present a better image for the city.

DISY MP, Giorgos Karoullas, said they expressed their "utmost" satisfaction with the policy of improving the houses, not only the facades, as he said, but also the substantial improvement of the houses on Piale Pasha-Tassos Mitsopoulos Avenue.

DPA MP, Michalis Yiakoumi, said on the same issue that they welcome initiatives and efforts that improve the quality of life of Larnaca residents, residents and visitors. "We will closely monitor the implementation of the project and if necessary, at any point, we will contribute and support this effort to upgrade our tourism product," he said.

Shopping centres in self-housing settlements and refugee settlements

Mr Kettiros said that one of the issues they discussed was the issue of shopping centres in self-housing settlements and refugee settlements.

He said that there are several problems, which they discussed on the basis of the new criteria set by a ministerial decision and whether they are satisfactory and whether they are met.

According to Mr. Kettiro, they have found as a Commission that there are shops in these shopping centres where there has been a change of use which is not recorded in the documents of the competent services, such as cafes used as betting agencies and grocery stores that have been converted into beer houses. "These uses are not allowed in shopping centres," he said."

He also said they have also identified a case where shops have been granted to a community council to be used as warehouses. "And that is unacceptable, because shopping centres, shops in shopping centres, are built to be given to refugees to use for the benefit of the community in which they are located," he said.

He added that there are a number of shops for which there are rent arrears, noting that ways must be found to make arrangements so that the rent arrears can be paid. Kettiros also referred to the fact that there are also a significant number of shops for which rents are paid but remain closed, which means that they are not used to serve people in the refugee settlements or in the self-housing settlements.

He also said that it has been decided to start repairs in some shopping centres and as a priority in Agioi Anargyros and in the Zeno settlement in Larnaca, because, he said, there are the biggest difficulties there concerning both change of use and non-use of shops and damages that have been done.

He said that the Committee is waiting for answers to some comments made by its members about certain shops, while the relevant services will have to conduct a study and on-site inspections to determine whether these shops are being used as they should be.

Mr. Karoullas said in his remarks that an essential pillar of the Anastasiades Government is the continuous improvement of the quality of life in the refugee settlements. He added that, as the Committee has been informed, the Ministry of Interior is immediately planning to implement a specific plan with specialised contracts for the repair and maintenance of shopping centres in the refugee settlements. At the same time, he added, much is being done, but there is more to be done, concerning the control of uses and contracts in the shopping centres in the refugee settlements.

Source: CNA

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