The view that the old port of Limassol and the pier are saturated with uses and that any other development will create a problem in the area, expressed the Limassol Mayor Yannis Armeftis, in relation to the proposals to create a giant wheel, such as the "London Eye". He added that there are environmental issues beyond the practical ones regarding how a development of this kind will be integrated in the area of the old port.
Mr. Giannis Armeftis stressed that he is in favour of creating more new public spaces where people can gather and be entertained. According to him, it is important to move forward with the plans for Carnagio because it will create, "a new pier where people can walk, swim, a path that will be green so it will be in the shade and the new Port will be included in these plans."
He added that any new developments such as Limassol Eye could be located close to the new port where there is bulky machinery such as cranes and can be more easily integrated into the environment so traffic issues can be better managed.
The Mayor also indicated that in such developments sustainability studies are very important, in the sense that these structures will also stand the test of time and will not be left there in disuse with the first difficulty. "This means that we have to be very, very careful about these development models, which have to be products of the real needs of a city and not just some ideas that an investor may have," Mr. Armeftis explained.
He clarified that he would discuss and was not against the installation of the "Limassol Eye" near the new port, without creating new landings in the sea, with proper environmental management and given that it would be a sustainable development. But he raised the question, whether this is a priority for Limassol?
The Mayor of Limassol believes that the position of the Local Authority should be taken very seriously in relation to the licensing process. "The new Licensing Authority cannot proceed with approval of any development without it being accepted by the Local Authority," he said. According to the Content of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study released for the construction and operation of the mixed development consisting of a revolving wheel and leisure facilities, called "Hyperion Limassol" on land to be created by backfilling, on the south side of the Old Port's jetty, this involves the construction of a building with leisure facilities that will have a revolving wheel with cabins on its roof, 140 m high.
Procedurally, the two applications submitted by foreign investors for developments similar to the "London Eye", hundreds of metres apart, on the sea in front of the old harbour and the pier, are before the Maritime Planning Commission. The Commission is required to decide whether to issue them with a Certificate of Compliance or a Certificate of Compatibility with the Marine Spatial Plan.
Members of the Commission sent questions to the Legal Service on whether the Port Authority has the legal authority to permit such a development. Questions were also sent regarding the landfill in the sea and who will own the land resulting from it? They are awaiting answers from the Legal Service in order to make their decisions.
