Newsroom / CNA
The Mayor of Aradippou has urged authorities to redesign planning policies so that industrial estates and residential neighbourhoods are no longer located next to one another, following Monday's major factory fire.
Christodoulos Partou said the issue requires action from both local authorities and the government, arguing that future planning decisions should create a clear separation between industrial developments and housing.
He praised the Fire Service for its rapid response to the blaze at a frozen food factory in Aradippou's industrial area, saying firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to nearby businesses. Fire crews remained at the site overnight to deal with repeated flare-ups after the fire, which broke out shortly before 1:30pm on Monday and was brought under control shortly before 9:00pm. He also thanked the Police and other emergency services that assisted in the operation.
According to the mayor, this was the second major industrial fire recorded within the municipality over the past two years. He explained that the affected industrial estate, jointly owned by the municipalities of Aradippou and Larnaca, is surrounded by residential properties, creating an ongoing planning challenge.
Partou acknowledged that relocating existing industrial estates would be difficult. However, with local planning policies currently under review, he believes new industrial zones should be established well away from residential communities. He also proposed restrictions preventing new homes from being built around industrial sites in the future.
He said no additional permits have been issued for new industrial facilities in the older state-owned industrial estate because there is no available space. Existing operating licences, however, are often transferred to different companies, allowing businesses to continue operating from the same location under new ownership.
The Aradippou Municipal Council intends to recommend two new industrial areas that would be located at a considerable distance from residential neighbourhoods and equipped with the infrastructure needed to attract new investment. The municipality's long-term objective is to gradually replace the current industrial estate surrounded by homes and to end both the renewal and transfer of operating licences for facilities there.
Partou also revealed that the Civil Defence Department was prepared to issue evacuation alerts to residents during Monday's fire because of the heavy smoke affecting the area.
He concluded by saying municipalities and the state must work together to resolve the longstanding problem of industrial estates being located beside residential communities.
