Nicosia mayor calls on residents to participate more actively in local plan discussions — Cyprus Mail
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos in Cyprus called on residents to take a more active part in consultations on the city’s new local plan. He particularly stressed the need to involve more young people in the discussions, Cyprus Mail reports.
“Participation is a sign of a healthy society,” Prountzos said. According to him, important proposals were already voiced during the two previous consultations. The meetings took place at the Melina Mercouri Hall in central Nicosia and the Ayios Dometios Municipal Theatre.
How the consultations are conducted
The meetings were intended to explain to residents and organised groups the procedure for preparing the new plan and to collect their proposals. The mayor described both consultations as “excellent” and noted that each lasted more than three hours. Municipal advisers gave a 20-minute presentation, while the rest of the time was devoted to participants’ views.
All sessions were recorded in full. The municipality also created a QR code and an online link through which residents can submit their proposals. Comments are also accepted through the Ippodamos platform of the planning department.
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Deadline for submitting proposals
Prountzos said that public participation is currently relatively active, but it could be strengthened, particularly among young people. The municipality intends to expand residents’ involvement through digital tools. He called citizen participation a central policy direction amid public disengagement and social alienation.
A technical department comprising a town planner, two transport planning specialists, architects, engineers and other specialists is working on the municipality’s proposal for the new plan. The document will then be submitted to the municipal council for approval, which will determine the final content of the submission.
The mayor also expressed concern about the tight deadlines set by the interior ministry and the planning council. Proposals must be submitted by October 18, after the initial report was circulated in mid-June. The municipality and the Union of Municipalities asked for a short extension, but have not yet received a response.
