The Ministry of Justice has revised its plans for the location of the new Central Prison; instead of the community of Mathiati, which was the first choice, the area of Agios Sozomenos in the Nicosia district has ultimately been chosen.
This is a Turkish Cypriot village that was abandoned in 1964, following the violent intercommunal clashes that took place in the area.
Agios Sozomenos falls under the jurisdiction of the Potamia Community Council and, by extension, the Municipality of South Nicosia–Idali. However, as in the case of Mathiatis, the decision was made without prior consultation with the local authority, and the Mayor of South Nicosia – Idali and the Deputy Mayor of Potamia only being informed of Kostas Fytiris’s plans after the fact.
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Read also: Backlash over the new prisons in Agios Sozomenos: The municipalities of South Nicosia-Idali and Latsia-Geri denounce the bypass
The affected municipalities of South Nicosia-Idali and Latsia -Gerios, have already sent a letter to the President of the Republic, expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of dialogue prior to the final decision. At the same time, in a joint statement issued yesterday, they outlined their concerns and requested a meeting with all relevant authorities.
“We demand the immediate suspension of any new discussions, announcement, or action to advance the project at this specific site, until a substantive consultation takes place with local authorities and the affected communities. At the same time, all available alternative siting options should be examined, based on objective and documented criteria.”
Change of Plans
According to the Ministry of Justice’s announcement, the change in plans was based on cost and time considerations.
The state-owned plot in Agios Sozomenos offers significant advantages over the plot in Mathiatis, as the wider area already has basic infrastructure for roads, sewer systems, water supply, and electricity.
“The Mathiatis area was the initial choice. However, further technical analysis revealed that developing the project at that specific site would require significant additional infrastructure, including a new road network, a sewer and water supply network, as well as the necessary electrical infrastructure. These requirements entail additional costs as well as a longer completion time.”
Ministry of Justice and Public Order
Vast Tract of State-Owned Land
The state-owned plot selected for the new central prison—which a crew from the program visited yesterday—covers a particularly large area, with a total area of 3,152,137 square meters. This area stretches from the ridge of the Potamia firing range to the boundaries of the Geri livestock-raising area.
This specific area, however, is not simply barren land with no other uses. High-voltage pylons belonging to the Cyprus Electricity Authority (AHK) are located in the area, and part of it is included in a protected area of the Natura network. In addition, archaeological sites have been identified, as well as two National Guard outposts, one of which serves as an important observation post overlooking the adjacent Demilitarized Zone.
Two large quarries and a wastewater treatment plant are also in operation in the same broader area. These existing infrastructure facilities, activities, and restrictions create a complex spatial and urban planning environment for which various approvals must be obtained in connection with the planned development.
Local Plan Up in the Air
The plan to build a state-of-the-art central prison in the Agios Sozomenos area also upends the plans of the Municipality of South Nicosia – Idali, and may, as we have been informed, affect efforts to upgrade the local plan.
On this specific state-owned plot, the Municipality had designated its new livestock farming area, as part of plans to relocate the existing Idali livestock farming area, which is adjacent to the residential zone. The goal was to move the livestock facilities away from the residential area in order to limit the impact on residents and, at the same time, enable the future expansion of the community’s residential zone.
The plan to relocate the livestock area was, among other things, linked to the proposals presented by Stavros Malas for the modernization of livestock facilities and their relocation from so-called “red zones,” where there is a high concentration of farms. The primary goal was to limit the risk of disease transmission, such as foot-and-mouth disease, from one farm to another.
At the same time, the municipality’s plans also included the expansion of the quarrying zone on the same state-owned plot.
As a result of the above, the announced location of the central prison in the area creates a new situation for both urban planning and the Municipality’s development goals, as it awaits further information on how to proceed.
See the report by Olga Konstantinou:
