It is indeed with great pleasure that I attend the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Planning Project of "Redevelopment of the Traditional Core of Apesia Community - Phase B". I cannot but express my satisfaction that the redevelopment of the traditional core of the Community is officially on track for implementation, aiming, on the one hand, to upgrade the built environment of the Community and, on the other hand, to improve the quality of life of its residents.
This project - let me remind you - is a continuation of Phase A, which included the redevelopment of the squares of Agia Zoni and Agios Georgios, projects co-financed by the European Leader Programme and the European Union. These projects are part of the wider programme promoted by the Department of Town Planning and Planning, in collaboration with the Municipalities and Communities, as part of the Government's policy of delivering aesthetically pleasing public spaces to citizens.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today we are laying the foundations for the second phase of a project which will cover an area of approximately 3,670 square metres, at an estimated cost of around €2.4 million, including the cost of the project itself.
With full respect and awareness of the identity of our communities, the proposals of the Department of Town and Country Planning of the Ministry of Interior aim to preserve the traditional character of our countryside.
With full respect and awareness of the identity of our communities, the proposals of the Department of Town and Country Planning of the Ministry of Interior aim to preserve the traditional character of our countryside. With this in mind, the POO, being the key player in the two phases of the project, has acted both in terms of the design, coordination and supervision of the construction phase and the management of the construction contracts.
Specifically, in this second phase of the project, the area under redevelopment will be landscaped and landscaped in a way that highlights the rural traditional character of the area. In the context of the project, particular importance was given to the promotion of the most beautiful ornament: the century-old Tremithos tree, which is a valuable "treasure" and a trademark of the Community, since it is included in the list of two hundred century-old trees in Cyprus.
Furthermore, the preservation, maintenance, promotion and promotion of the remains of original paving stones, cobblestones, dry stones or any other elements (stone, etc.), as well as the use of local traditional materials, such as local stone, in floors, walls, retaining walls, etc., is of significant importance. The aim is for the final result to be in harmony with the traditional standards of the area and to be in keeping, both technically and aesthetically, with the existing traditional structures.
The combination of the use of environmentally friendly materials and the increase of green areas and planting elements will improve the surrounding area, while the use of building materials resistant to use and time, gives perspective to the aesthetics and timelessness with the quality of the construction.
Dear all,
The upgrading of the core of the Community is now a fact. It is through such projects and similar interventions that in the last 10 years the Government of Nicos Anastasiades has achieved a total reversal of the poorly built urban environment in many areas of our country. Through a series of actions, within the framework of a coherent policy, but also through the reforms and policies we have implemented as a Ministry, we have practically managed to strengthen local communities in the direction of development and prosperity, with even more multiplier benefits.
Almost a week ago we announced housing schemes and subsidies for our rural, mountainous, marginal and disadvantaged areas plagued by the wave of urbanisation and deforestation, which we are proud to hand over as a legacy to the citizens of this country.
From July 2019, when we implemented the plans, until the end of 2022, we approved a total of 903 applications, on a nationwide scale, granting €32.5 million in financial assistance to families for the acquisition of owner-occupied housing, we have managed, up to 2023, to gradually quadruple them to €20 million, giving, on the one hand, even greater prospects for the development and revitalization of the target areas, and, on the other hand, a "helping hand" to our young people who wish to open a new page in their lives.
The revised housing plans include improvements with more generous financial benefits, up to €95,000, but also extended criteria, which will help to increase the pool of beneficiaries on the one hand and to achieve more promising conditions of progress and prosperity for you, the inhabitants of our mountain and rural areas, on the other.
In synergy with the housing projects, we also support residents living in mountainous and remote areas through a targeted subsidy policy, which has been evaluated and re-launched for 2023 with improved parameters.
We are confident that the package of plans we are delivering to the new Government, in the short and long term, will prosper with mutual gains and benefits both for our own country - in the mountains and in the countryside - and for the citizens themselves. I am optimistic that people will make the most of the plans both for themselves and for the local community and economy.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Combined with the reform of local government, which we have been rolling out in order to move into the new local government era in 2024, we will deliver to citizens more developed and higher quality local communities.
Under the new Local Government Charter, 30 local service clusters with their own legal personality are created for communities. The communities of Agios Georgios (Limassol), Agios Mamas, Alassa, Apesia, Doros, Kapileio, Korfi, Lania, Limnati, Monagri, Silikou and Trimiklini, as you know, are joined together in a cluster.
The creation of local clusters will undoubtedly create conditions for increased administrative, scientific and technical competence in terms of common utilities on the part of local authorities. More efficient services, better service and more efficient financial management will now become a fact, and it is something that you, the residents of our countryside, will enjoy.
Dear all,
This was the goal of the ten-year government of Nicos Anastasiades: to build and deliver to the citizens of our country more modern and developed local communities, which will meet the increased demands of society.
At this point, I would like to congratulate the Head of the Community, the members of the Community Council, as well as the Director and staff of the Department of Planning and Zoning, and the government departments involved, as well as, of course, the construction company "Makway Construction Company LTD", which is responsible for the construction of the project, the foundation stone of which we are laying today.
Allow me to personally commend my friend the Chairman of the Community Council and the Community Council for their tireless and efficient efforts for the progress and development of the community.
I conclude by hoping that the Anastasiades Government's vision for our highlands and countryside will not be left at the mercy of isolated, ephemeral, untargeted policies and actions, but will be based on an executive planning process aimed at investing in growth and better prospects. Because the Cypriot countryside and our mountains are the core of preserving the authenticity of our country.
I wish you all the best and best wishes for the future.
(EFYs/IK)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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