The formal commencement of expansion works at Larnaca and Paphos airports, alongside a noticeable increase in flights as the summer tourist season begins, has brought renewed attention to the problem of inadequate and unsuitable access to Paphos airport.
Provincial bodies and stakeholders are urgently raising the importance of completing the road project with relevant state departments, emphasising that this represents the first image visitors see of Cyprus and that this image cannot relate to an outdated and dysfunctional road network.
The Environmental Authority’s rejection of the major road completion project has caused reactions in Paphos for some time and is prompting coordination of interventions and strong responses from local bodies.
The recent admission by responsible government bodies that the relevant department’s rejection of the second section’s construction creates serious problems for the government’s ability to proceed with implementation has caused uproar in Paphos.
Daily practical problems created by the outdated road serving the airport are evident, whilst the upcoming tourist season appears even better than last year, meaning corresponding transport problems will be proportionally large.
The Environment Department has concluded that changes proposed in the environmental study prepared by Paphos bodies to overcome initial objections are insufficient to change the overall situation for the better.
It emphasises that the existing road to Paphos airport can satisfy the facility’s and province’s needs with some improvements.
This development comes in complete contrast to Paphos bodies’ hopes, who continue to strongly believe that the only impact on the Natura area would concern only a small part of the Ezousas river passing through the site, which they argue should allow the project to proceed.
