Central Corfu Mayor: Peripheral parking and restricted entry into town for cars - first steps for traffic management

The municipal authority is moving towards imposing restrictions on vehicle entry into the town during peak periods, following on from the previous administration of Meropi Ydraiou last August. However, a prerequisite is finding parking spaces, for which steps have already begun, starting with the reclassification of the Lyrikou plot to convert it into an official car park.

The traffic problem was discussed at yesterday's session of Central Corfu Municipal Council for the accountability of the Municipal Authority, following a question from the head of the Allazoume Rota party, Takis Metallinos.

The municipal councillor expressed the full range of the problem, from the traffic congestion caused at the entrance of the Old Fortress by tourist buses, the use of the road at Mourayia as an exit for heavy vehicles, the numerous presence of red sightseeing buses, the lack of peripheral parking, to the issue of parking permanent residents' vehicles in the Lower Square car park. Addressing the municipal authority, he pointed out that at some point, they will have to take action to achieve results.

Peripheral Parking Areas

The Mayor, Stefanos Poulimenos, acknowledged that the issues raised by Mr. Metallinos are undoubtedly crucial to the life of the area, not only for the town but for the entire island, as similar traffic conditions exist on the main roads to and from the town.

He stated that the municipal authority has already taken some actions that will change some of the existing traffic conditions described.

He said that the Town Planning Department has undertaken, as its first priority for this municipal term, the reclassification of the Lyrikou plot from a cultural space to an official car park.

He pointed out that the process is progressing at a satisfactory pace and there will be results in 2024. "We will have the modification of the General Urban Plan in this area, which will allow us to have the majority of the 13.5 stremma of the Lyrikou plot at our disposal to create a large parking area near the town, where those parking their cars won't even need a bus," said Mr. Poulimenos. "The study will show how many stremma out of the 13.5 can be utilised. We are not being idle. We made this specific choice, which will significantly change the traffic situation in Corfu Town."

As he said, another solution they are working on concerns a space on the north side of the town entrance, aimed at adding to the parking spaces to alleviate the severity of the town's traffic problem. The space, he said, is not yet ready for announcement as the Municipality is still in discussions.

Additionally, as another parking space, he mentioned the 20-stremma Adelfaton plot, which was allocated to the Municipality in 2022 for this purpose. "If we do not use large peripheral parking areas, we cannot talk about solving the town's traffic problem," added Mr. Poulimenos, clarifying that the municipal authority has taken the first steps in the right direction, albeit not at the pace it would like, due to bureaucracy, remaining faithful to the promise made before the elections.

Restrictive Measures

He also said that the restrictive measures implemented last August by the previous municipal authority to limit vehicle entry into the town from 19:00 to 00:00 were a positive step, which the current municipality will also pursue. "It's a step that we will take as well, namely restricting vehicle entry into the town, especially during peak times when thousands of drivers want to enter the town," he said. "Restrictive measures are absolutely necessary; however, they must be combined with directing drivers of private cars to designated areas to avoid congestion on restricted streets, particularly in the old town."

Tourist and Sightseeing Buses

He added that any initiatives under the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan will be integrated to regulate specific traffic issues within the town.

Referring to the major issue of tourist buses and the problems they create within the town, he stressed that the Municipality will examine how it can intervene regarding their circulation and parking near the Old Fortress. "We are looking forward to and relying on the recommendations made by transport experts to propose solutions. The Mobility Plan will suggest traffic changes, which we will consider," he noted. He further added, "There's also the counterargument that each tourist bus is equivalent to 20 private cars and may pose a greater problem than private cars and rentals. It's a double-edged sword."

Regarding the red tourist buses, which Mr. Metallinos referred to in relation to the restrictions imposed by the Mayor of Rhodes, Mr. Poulimenos said that he takes note of the observation, pointing out, however, that permits have been issued for many years by the relevant Ministry and that they are so numerous that they currently pose a real problem.

He made a specific reference to the decision taken at the previous session of the Municipal Council regarding the re-establishment of the Municipal Police with 16 officers, as today the Municipality lacks any enforcement mechanism to regulate traffic within the town.

Finally, referring to the passage of heavy vehicles through Mourayia, he pointed out that if they stop using it, it will cause a bigger traffic problem, but he reserved further examination of the issue.

MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI

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