Foundations for protection and promotion of old town - a UNESCO monument

(Central Corfu Municipality) Long-standing issues concerning Corfu Old Town were discussed during the meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Old Town Management Plan, a UNESCO monument, which took place in the Central Hall of the Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipal Art Gallery, on 9th and 10th December.

The Municipal Authority informed the committee members about its plan, aimed at the protection of the designated UNESCO World Heritage site, while simultaneously enhancing its appearance and the quality of life.

The responsible deputy mayors and municipal officials presented proposals on three key issues.

• The Deputy Mayor for the Old Town and Commerce, Kostas Voulis, discussed the plan to update the Urban Functioning Regulation, which includes realistic and applicable provisions for all types of professional activities (outdoor seating, merchandise display, etc.).

The plan will soon be put out for public consultation, followed by approval from the Central Archaeological Council. The final approval of the Regulatory Decision will be given by the Municipal Council.

• The Deputy Mayor for Spatial Planning and Environment, Thomas Vlassis, and the Head of the Urban Planning Department, Sofia Kotzibou, presented the ongoing Special Urban Planning Study for the Old Town, which outlines, among other things, land use zones and public open spaces. Efforts to secure funding for the study began in 2017, and its inclusion in the Public Investment Programme was signed in 2022 by the Ionian Islands Regional Authority. Through a programme agreement, the Municipality proceeded with the tender process in 2023, and in 2024, the Mayor signed the contract with the contractor. The completion of the study is expected in early 2026.

• The Deputy Mayor for Technical Services, Andreas Kardonas, the Director of Technical Services, Spyros Koronakis, and the Head of the Sustainable Mobility Department, Emmanouela Papadopoulou, informed the committee members about the traffic regulations as part of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, aiming to facilitate movement and enhance the character of the Old Town. These measures include restricting the entry of tourist buses, which are a significant cause of traffic congestion and hinder access. Emphasis was placed on ensuring parking spaces for permanent residents, access for emergency vehicles and pedestrians, and the need for peripheral parking spaces. To this end, the Municipal Authority strongly requested the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture’s services for the areas under its jurisdiction in order to alleviate congestion in the historic centre.

A detailed discussion was also held with Ministry of Culture officials about the repair work on buildings with small-scale construction permits and the approval processes by the relevant authorities, as well as the need for training professionals on the specifics of constructions and interventions in the buildings of the historic centre.

After a constructive dialogue, extremely useful observations and suggestions were made by the committee members, laying the foundations for regular and close cooperation between the Municipality and the Ministries of Culture and Environment. The Monitoring Committee will meet again, as planned, next April, before Easter, when the first results will be assessed.

At the end of the meeting, coordination was also carried out regarding the financial contributions of the members to a special bank account set up for this purpose, as provided by the Memorandum of Cooperation. The funds of the Management Authority will be used for parallel actions to inform and raise awareness within the local community about the implementation of the regulatory framework, which will highlight the UNESCO monument, keep it inhabited and alive, and ultimately enhance the Old Town.

Photo: Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Municipality