A REDEVELOPMENT AND DEMOLITION CHANGED TALA

 Filenews 12 October 2020 - by Dora Christodoulou

A redevelopment and demolition completely changed the image in the area of Tala and created a new, upgraded aesthetically and functional landscape. The redevelopment concerns the second phase of the redevelopment of the main core that preceded it, while the demolition concerns the large building that was deemed dangerous and because of which a large part of the inhabitants of the community remained excluded from the main access road to and from their residences for a whole year.

With these two projects now completed and delivered for a few days for use to the public, the community leader of Talas, Areti Pieridou, speaks today to "F" about projects that changed the image in the area and upgraded, both functionally and aesthetically, the daily lives of residents and visitors.

"These two facts", stresses Mrs Pieridou, "were interrelated, since the second phase of the regeneration of the central fabric of the community could not begin in its entirety if the demolition of the dangerous building in Kamares was not completed first. This is because, due to the closure of the road to "Kamares", all traffic was channelled from the main square of the village where the second phase was being carried out".

The completed first and second phase has already given a new, impressive and more attractive face to the spaces located around the main square.

Her enthusiasm for the outcome of this first phase was also expressed by the Engineer of the Community Council of Talas, who pointed out that with the execution of the second phase of the major project Tala completely changed face throughout the wider extent of its historical core.

"This phase was about regulating traffic conditions around the square, in the wider core of the community," he stressed. "The walls of those houses in this area were also de-certified, paved and all other necessary arrangements were made in order to serve the function and aesthetic promotion of our square".

In addition to the aesthetic and functional upgrade in the center of the community for the residents and visitors themselves, stressed Mrs. Pieridou, with the projects that have been done in the first phase are also served the entrepreneurs of the center, the catering shops, the sale of various kinds and other services.

"We now have a model square," he said, "that can be enjoyed by the people of the area, walk and sit, the children can play in a safe space from cars and enjoy a natural environment."

The central idea of the design for the regeneration of the central core of Tala was the pedestrian planning of the square, its transformation into a place of social interactions and the organization of events, instead of the unregulated traffic that was observed until recently. The total cost of the project amounted to 1.3 million euros and the Talas community will contribute 30% of the amount. The project was co-financed by the European Structural Funds. With the changes that have been made, it is estimated that life in the square, in which various businesses already operate, will be further improved. The change in the central fabric of Tala is possible after the concession of spaces in the square, belonging to the Church, by the Archbishop of Cyprus to the community, so that the project can unite the precinct of the old with the new church of the community.

A key element of the redevelopment, too, is the union of the two churches through their square spaces. The courtyards and courtyards of the churches of Saint Catherine and Christ the Savior are now joined by the main square of the village, creating a new square center.

Speaking at the event for the presentation of the redevelopment plans, Archbishop Chrysostomos welcomed the improvements and projects presented. He stressed that with the arrangements that have been put forward, everyone will learn to park vehicles in parking lots to walk and enjoy the scenery and not to park outside exactly the premises to which they want to go.

"There had to be a twist in the square," he said. "If everyone insisted on entering the square in their car, then the redevelopment should not be decided."

The engines went out a year later.

After months of procedures, concerns about the levels of public safety in the area and protests by the residents of "Kamares" in Tala about the suffering they were enduring, the bulldozers completed their work and turned off machines a year later.

The dangerous three-storey building at the entrance of "Kamares" disappeared at the initiative and expense of the state, after the owner had declared an inability to undertake the costly project.

Speaking to "F", the District Officer of Paphos, Mary Lambrou, stressed that the projects began with the demolition of the third level of the building and then became the necessary support on the boundaries of the piece to stabilize the land and the rest of the demolitions.

"It is well known that the destabilisation of the site was caused by the arbitrary constructions made by the accused development company," she said. "Before the start of the work, a detailed geotechnical and demolition study was carried out which have been presented to us in our offices by the successful bidders".

A stake was also made on the tangent road, Paphos District Officer said, referring to specialized work at a significant cost of about half a million that would then be claimed by the defendants if they themselves did not respond and the construction complex had become dangerous.

The expense is covered by savings in the state budget, Mary Lambrou concluded.