Pelendri, the once prosperous township of the Pitsilia region looks forward to a new era of development that could curtail the exodus of its people to urban centres. Current numbers are not encouraging, but the prospects in areas such as tourism, as well as production of wine, agricultural production and cold cuts hold out hope for the future.

The implementation of a series of infrastructure projects, important for the survival and well-being of the local people, are among the priorities of the Pelendri Community Council. One of them, as community head Nikolas Patsiaouros pointed out to "Entrepreneurial Limassol", is the reconstruction of the bypass to the nearby community of Potamitissa. Construction works were stopped due to a disagreement between the contractor and the Department of Public Works and resumed with another contractor last June, with the aim of completing the First Phase by the beginning of April. By June, offers are expected to be announced for the €2 million second phase.

Great delays, Mr. Patsiaouros said, are also presented with regard to the renovation project of the central square of the community, at a cost of €620.000. Until recently, the Department of Urban Planning alluded to the difficulty in preparing the tender documents, due to understaffing. "We have had many promises for this project," said the community council head. "The last one given by the Ministry of Interior recently", he added, "is that the offers will be announced in May, with the aim of completing the project in June 2022", with Mr. Patsiaouros expressing the hope that this time promises will be kept, as there is no longer any pending issue.

A Green Point is in the process of implementation, after finding a suitable space and it is expected to be built within the current year. Future plans include the creation of a park with a cafeteria around the Byzantine church of the Holy Cross, which is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the same area, there are plans to create an ecclesiastical museum and a reception centre, which will be housed in two listed buildings, one of which has already been acquired, while the second is under expropriation.

Welcoming the housing plans announced by the Interior Ministry for the revitalization of mountain communities, Mr. Patsiaouros puts on the table the request for a subsidy for the purchase of plots of land divided a decade ago by the Cyprus Land Development Organization in Pelendri but remained unused due to high costs. "The numbers," he noted, "are tragic." Ten years ago, the primary school of Pelendri had 120 students, while this school year, only 40. The completion of the Limassol - Saittas motorway is expected to augur well for the community, albeit in the long run.