Second Annual Social Evening
in aid of Χείρα Βοηθείας
Dear Mr. Editor,
Just a few lines to say how much we enjoyed the evening at Nippos.
It was a very well organised event and I feel thanks must go to your team for all their hard work on behalf of Cheira Boitheias. I am delighted to see that so many people are so willing to help others who are less fortunate than themselves and also to be able to enjoy themselves while doing so.
I would like to thank everyone who took part in any small way for making it a most successful evening and we look forward to enjoying many more fund raising events during 2013.
I think the amount of money raised was fantastic and I am sure it will be put to good use in the near future.
Best wishes
Issie & Ossie
Just a few lines to say how much we enjoyed the evening at Nippos.
It was a very well organised event and I feel thanks must go to your team for all their hard work on behalf of Cheira Boitheias. I am delighted to see that so many people are so willing to help others who are less fortunate than themselves and also to be able to enjoy themselves while doing so.
I would like to thank everyone who took part in any small way for making it a most successful evening and we look forward to enjoying many more fund raising events during 2013.
I think the amount of money raised was fantastic and I am sure it will be put to good use in the near future.
Best wishes
Issie & Ossie
Second People's Market Sunday August 22
Bigger - Yes Better - ?
Readers tell us what they think
Elizabeth writes
I went with my Greek family from Stilos and frankly it was not worth the petrol. Far too many cheap clothes and nothing worth buying. Where was the local produce at reasonable rates? What a disappointment.
John writes
"Most people I spoke to yesterday were disappointed at the lack of food stalls, I think around 80% of the stalls were non food.
Of the few food stalls most seemed to be market traders and not farmers selling their local produce so it would be interesting to know exactly how many were genuine. I'd have a guess and say none. The ones selling raki / cheeses were taverna owners from Vrysses, one in particular was charging more for his Raki than he does in his shop in the village. It must be something to do with Sunday working affecting his overheads, eh ?
Having said that the event brought people to the village and the local tavernas were busy with an upturn in business and it gave many people the opportunity to renew acquaintances.
I think for the market to be a long term success it must be held on a more regular basis with a greater emphasis on food.
One person I spoke to yesterday evening told me that they didn't go because on the previous visit prices of food were more expensive than they could buy on the market at Rethymon."
What do you think?
Τι λες εσυ;
Elizabeth writes
I went with my Greek family from Stilos and frankly it was not worth the petrol. Far too many cheap clothes and nothing worth buying. Where was the local produce at reasonable rates? What a disappointment.
John writes
"Most people I spoke to yesterday were disappointed at the lack of food stalls, I think around 80% of the stalls were non food.
Of the few food stalls most seemed to be market traders and not farmers selling their local produce so it would be interesting to know exactly how many were genuine. I'd have a guess and say none. The ones selling raki / cheeses were taverna owners from Vrysses, one in particular was charging more for his Raki than he does in his shop in the village. It must be something to do with Sunday working affecting his overheads, eh ?
Having said that the event brought people to the village and the local tavernas were busy with an upturn in business and it gave many people the opportunity to renew acquaintances.
I think for the market to be a long term success it must be held on a more regular basis with a greater emphasis on food.
One person I spoke to yesterday evening told me that they didn't go because on the previous visit prices of food were more expensive than they could buy on the market at Rethymon."
What do you think?
Τι λες εσυ;
Γιατί η καινούρια Εθνική Οδός; Γιατί Αυτή η διαδρομή;
Why a New National Road ? Why this Route ?
Is this what we want ?
Issue 12 of our Newsletter reported on the plan to build a new national highway through Apokoronas instead of upgrading the existing road.
Readers have begun to express their views. We will print them here.
Catherine et Olivier write
La somme prévue pour la construction d'une nouvelle autoroute a Apokoronas serait mieux investie, en ces temps difficiles,dans un projet social.
La route déjà existante est suffisante pour le niveau du traffic, même en été.Il serait plus judicieux de rénover et d'améliorer la sécurité des vieilles routes.
Sans parler de l'impact environnemental sur la région.
This amount of money for a new hignway in Apokoronas should be better spent, in these hard times, on a social project. The existing road is enough to facilitate the traffic even in summer. It will be better to renovate and to upgrade the old roads. And what about the environmental impact on the Apokoronas area ?
Catherine et Laurent write
Mr Manolis Haritakis
Nous avons appris le projet de construction d’une autoroute au niveau de KOURNAS.
Le tracé de cet autoroute entrainera la mort de bon nombre de villages et petits commerces.
La Grèce a-t-elle les moyens financiers d’assumer de telles dépenses ??
N’est-il pas plus important et plus urgent d’investir dans des projets à caractère social : beaucoup de familles sont en difficultés et l’argent dépensé pour ce projet pourrait aider bons nombres de grecs.
En venant de Grèce continentale, nous roulons sur l’autoroute PATRAS ATHENES qui est en cours de construction depuis de nombreuses années et nous constatons que les travaux sont arrêtés, au mépris de la sécurité.
N’est t il pas plus judicieux de terminer les projets en cours avant de se lancer dans d’autres chantiers sans intérêts prioritaires.
Cette autoroute au cout pharaonique ne sera en plus utile que quelques mois dans l’année (période estivale)
Nous sommes bien sur très opposés à cette nouvelle route qui fait double emploi avec la new Road et qui va écologiquement parlant détruire un paysage, la faune et la flore existante.
Le CRETE est une ile authentique : la bétonner c est la tuer !!!
Pour ceux qui ont des informations : Merci de nous préciser s'il existe des associations qui se sont constituées pour se battre contre ce projet .
CATHERINE ET LAURENT propriétaires d’une maison à DRAMIA
We learned about the construction of a highway in KOURNAS.
The route of this highway will result in the death of many villages and small shops.
Has Greece got the financial means to assume such expenses?
Is it not more important and more urgent to invest in social projects: many families are in trouble and the money spent on this project could help a lot of of Greek people.
From Greek mainland, we drive on the highway ATHENS PATRAS which has been under construction for many years and we find that the work has stopped in violation of security.
Does not it make more sense to finish current projects before embarking on other sites without priority interests.
This highway will be too much expensiveand will be used only a few months in the year ! (summer)
We are of course very much opposed to this new route which overlaps with the New Road and will destroy an ecologically-important landscape, the existing flora and fauna .
Creta is an authentic island: the concreting will be its death!
For those who have information: Please let us know if there are associations that have been formed to fight against it.
CATHERINE AND LAWRENCE homeowners to Dramia
Graham and Mavis write
"We are owners of a villa bordering the lake road at Mathes.
Despite a visit to the town hall at Vrisses we were unable to
see a map of the proposed new road. We were told to
refer the matter to Sifi Stavroulakis who was dealing with this at
Heraklion.
Is there anywhere we can see the elusive map?"
Graham and Mavis
Jeni and Roy write
Dear Pete
Thank you for keeping us up to date with important issues..............the point we would like to make about the proposed New National Road is that the damage done to the existing roads with the last winter rains is considerable............for example, the old road between Vrysses and Neo Horio is full of potholes. Would not this huge amount of money for the New National Road be more wisely spent, in these hard financial times, on maintaining the roads we currently have?
Best wishes Jeni and Roy
Yves writes :
Hello,
To upgrade the existing road for security : yes
For the creation of a new highway: NO
This new ecological scandal must be avoided.
What about the highway Patras - Athens: many structures have been started. Today all work is stopped for lack of funding, it is urgent to complete this highway instead of starting highway in Crete.
The risk in Crete: the work that will destroy the landscape and that can not be completed until decades!!!
Is Greece rich enough to engage in such spending? is there no other social priorities?
Thank you to tell us if there are associations that were formed to fight against this highway.
Can we financially assist these associations in order to pay lawyers to stop this madness?
Who to contact to participate in this fight?
Yves, French owner of a house in Dramia
Perpetto writes :
Before the municipal elections in 2010, we heard from all the candidates, our mayor included, promises about a “low profile development” for Apokoronas that would combine agriculture and tourism. The environment is ideal for organic production and the villages they are all worth a visit, not to mention the extraordinary walks someone can have, reaching the spread historical monuments.
Now, suddenly the plans have changed and they decide that a new highway crossing Apokoronas is more important. Why have our politicians decided this “dramatic” change and thrown in the waist basket the “low profile” option? Can they really do this without informing the residents and voters about their plans? Is it enough for them to hide in the bureaucratic Greek labyrinth? Do they really believe that in the combination agriculture – tourism can add a brand new highway? I think we all deserve an answer, since we all live here. And some answers to my friends the drivers. Are they ready to accept the full version of a highway with European standards? Will they be ready for a strict control on the speed, alcohol, condition of vehicle etc? How about the presence of traffic police that does the proper job? What about having your vehicles insured? (A big number of vehicles on the roads of Crete are not insured).
PERPETTO
Pantelis writes :
"I’ve read your article regarding the National Highway, so, I would like to make few comments about this issue.
I believe that it is very well known and acceptable to anyone who lives in this area that the existing road is incapable to facilitate the traffic load particularly during the summer where a rapid and significant increase of the traffic has been evidenced. In fact, this road is entirely unsuitable and unsafe and this can be easily determined by the volume and the severity of the accidents that had happened over the past years. It is therefore imperative and utmost important to give an end to this embarrassing situation by providing a safe and efficient road network across the island.
Unfortunately the government was absent or deliberately ignored the problem by following the ostrich way all that time.It’s intervention was limited to partial improvements to the road around the three major cities of the island, the expansion of the same towards the both ends although such extensions were of the same specification to the existing one.
As aforementioned the consequences were mostly severe and in many cases fatal. It is totally unacceptable and shame for our country instead of providing a safe environment to our summer guests, whom their contribution to our economy considered substantial, to make them challenging their fate on any single kilometer whenever driving on this so called Highway.
Having said that, I strongly believe that this road must be upgraded to meet safe driving standards not only for providing fast movement from one place to another but most importantly to provide safe driving.
In this respect I’m to the opinion that as long as twenty meters on either sides have been purchased by the state for the purpose of future expansion of the road, this indeed twenty meter lanes must utilized for widening the road so to meet the highway standards. I think this will be the most appropriate solution.
Certainly someone could argue that this area has had been violated by tourist businessmen who build their enterprises over this area without being impeded by the State. Even though, this doe’s not legalize their violation and the State must demolish partly or wholly these constructions in order to utilize this area for the purpose that it was purchased.
After all, it is constitutional and well known that law ignorance cannot be justified, so these people were well aware about what they’re doing and its consequences thereof.
If the government, as it is becoming apparent now, decided to make a new road instead of claiming back these purchased twenty meter lanes, it is clear that it is either reluctant to confront the local businessmen lobby or its instruments somehow have been penetrated or influenced by this lobby to select another way that is more favorable to their interests.
Apart from the environmental and economical impact of this decision, it is also immoral to appraise the contravener thus promoting such arbitrary attitude, something that will not be the first time happening in this country.
In this respect I believe that we must exercise all our efforts to impede and definitely obstruct the planned build of the new road, demanding at the same time the government to exercise its lawful rights over the purchased lanes regardless if the late is coming in contradiction with local interests whatsoever and howsoever.
Consistently I dully appreciate and support your initiative thereto.
Kind Regards
Pantelis
Readers have begun to express their views. We will print them here.
Catherine et Olivier write
La somme prévue pour la construction d'une nouvelle autoroute a Apokoronas serait mieux investie, en ces temps difficiles,dans un projet social.
La route déjà existante est suffisante pour le niveau du traffic, même en été.Il serait plus judicieux de rénover et d'améliorer la sécurité des vieilles routes.
Sans parler de l'impact environnemental sur la région.
This amount of money for a new hignway in Apokoronas should be better spent, in these hard times, on a social project. The existing road is enough to facilitate the traffic even in summer. It will be better to renovate and to upgrade the old roads. And what about the environmental impact on the Apokoronas area ?
Catherine et Laurent write
Mr Manolis Haritakis
Nous avons appris le projet de construction d’une autoroute au niveau de KOURNAS.
Le tracé de cet autoroute entrainera la mort de bon nombre de villages et petits commerces.
La Grèce a-t-elle les moyens financiers d’assumer de telles dépenses ??
N’est-il pas plus important et plus urgent d’investir dans des projets à caractère social : beaucoup de familles sont en difficultés et l’argent dépensé pour ce projet pourrait aider bons nombres de grecs.
En venant de Grèce continentale, nous roulons sur l’autoroute PATRAS ATHENES qui est en cours de construction depuis de nombreuses années et nous constatons que les travaux sont arrêtés, au mépris de la sécurité.
N’est t il pas plus judicieux de terminer les projets en cours avant de se lancer dans d’autres chantiers sans intérêts prioritaires.
Cette autoroute au cout pharaonique ne sera en plus utile que quelques mois dans l’année (période estivale)
Nous sommes bien sur très opposés à cette nouvelle route qui fait double emploi avec la new Road et qui va écologiquement parlant détruire un paysage, la faune et la flore existante.
Le CRETE est une ile authentique : la bétonner c est la tuer !!!
Pour ceux qui ont des informations : Merci de nous préciser s'il existe des associations qui se sont constituées pour se battre contre ce projet .
CATHERINE ET LAURENT propriétaires d’une maison à DRAMIA
We learned about the construction of a highway in KOURNAS.
The route of this highway will result in the death of many villages and small shops.
Has Greece got the financial means to assume such expenses?
Is it not more important and more urgent to invest in social projects: many families are in trouble and the money spent on this project could help a lot of of Greek people.
From Greek mainland, we drive on the highway ATHENS PATRAS which has been under construction for many years and we find that the work has stopped in violation of security.
Does not it make more sense to finish current projects before embarking on other sites without priority interests.
This highway will be too much expensiveand will be used only a few months in the year ! (summer)
We are of course very much opposed to this new route which overlaps with the New Road and will destroy an ecologically-important landscape, the existing flora and fauna .
Creta is an authentic island: the concreting will be its death!
For those who have information: Please let us know if there are associations that have been formed to fight against it.
CATHERINE AND LAWRENCE homeowners to Dramia
Graham and Mavis write
"We are owners of a villa bordering the lake road at Mathes.
Despite a visit to the town hall at Vrisses we were unable to
see a map of the proposed new road. We were told to
refer the matter to Sifi Stavroulakis who was dealing with this at
Heraklion.
Is there anywhere we can see the elusive map?"
Graham and Mavis
Jeni and Roy write
Dear Pete
Thank you for keeping us up to date with important issues..............the point we would like to make about the proposed New National Road is that the damage done to the existing roads with the last winter rains is considerable............for example, the old road between Vrysses and Neo Horio is full of potholes. Would not this huge amount of money for the New National Road be more wisely spent, in these hard financial times, on maintaining the roads we currently have?
Best wishes Jeni and Roy
Yves writes :
Hello,
To upgrade the existing road for security : yes
For the creation of a new highway: NO
This new ecological scandal must be avoided.
What about the highway Patras - Athens: many structures have been started. Today all work is stopped for lack of funding, it is urgent to complete this highway instead of starting highway in Crete.
The risk in Crete: the work that will destroy the landscape and that can not be completed until decades!!!
Is Greece rich enough to engage in such spending? is there no other social priorities?
Thank you to tell us if there are associations that were formed to fight against this highway.
Can we financially assist these associations in order to pay lawyers to stop this madness?
Who to contact to participate in this fight?
Yves, French owner of a house in Dramia
Perpetto writes :
Before the municipal elections in 2010, we heard from all the candidates, our mayor included, promises about a “low profile development” for Apokoronas that would combine agriculture and tourism. The environment is ideal for organic production and the villages they are all worth a visit, not to mention the extraordinary walks someone can have, reaching the spread historical monuments.
Now, suddenly the plans have changed and they decide that a new highway crossing Apokoronas is more important. Why have our politicians decided this “dramatic” change and thrown in the waist basket the “low profile” option? Can they really do this without informing the residents and voters about their plans? Is it enough for them to hide in the bureaucratic Greek labyrinth? Do they really believe that in the combination agriculture – tourism can add a brand new highway? I think we all deserve an answer, since we all live here. And some answers to my friends the drivers. Are they ready to accept the full version of a highway with European standards? Will they be ready for a strict control on the speed, alcohol, condition of vehicle etc? How about the presence of traffic police that does the proper job? What about having your vehicles insured? (A big number of vehicles on the roads of Crete are not insured).
PERPETTO
Pantelis writes :
"I’ve read your article regarding the National Highway, so, I would like to make few comments about this issue.
I believe that it is very well known and acceptable to anyone who lives in this area that the existing road is incapable to facilitate the traffic load particularly during the summer where a rapid and significant increase of the traffic has been evidenced. In fact, this road is entirely unsuitable and unsafe and this can be easily determined by the volume and the severity of the accidents that had happened over the past years. It is therefore imperative and utmost important to give an end to this embarrassing situation by providing a safe and efficient road network across the island.
Unfortunately the government was absent or deliberately ignored the problem by following the ostrich way all that time.It’s intervention was limited to partial improvements to the road around the three major cities of the island, the expansion of the same towards the both ends although such extensions were of the same specification to the existing one.
As aforementioned the consequences were mostly severe and in many cases fatal. It is totally unacceptable and shame for our country instead of providing a safe environment to our summer guests, whom their contribution to our economy considered substantial, to make them challenging their fate on any single kilometer whenever driving on this so called Highway.
Having said that, I strongly believe that this road must be upgraded to meet safe driving standards not only for providing fast movement from one place to another but most importantly to provide safe driving.
In this respect I’m to the opinion that as long as twenty meters on either sides have been purchased by the state for the purpose of future expansion of the road, this indeed twenty meter lanes must utilized for widening the road so to meet the highway standards. I think this will be the most appropriate solution.
Certainly someone could argue that this area has had been violated by tourist businessmen who build their enterprises over this area without being impeded by the State. Even though, this doe’s not legalize their violation and the State must demolish partly or wholly these constructions in order to utilize this area for the purpose that it was purchased.
After all, it is constitutional and well known that law ignorance cannot be justified, so these people were well aware about what they’re doing and its consequences thereof.
If the government, as it is becoming apparent now, decided to make a new road instead of claiming back these purchased twenty meter lanes, it is clear that it is either reluctant to confront the local businessmen lobby or its instruments somehow have been penetrated or influenced by this lobby to select another way that is more favorable to their interests.
Apart from the environmental and economical impact of this decision, it is also immoral to appraise the contravener thus promoting such arbitrary attitude, something that will not be the first time happening in this country.
In this respect I believe that we must exercise all our efforts to impede and definitely obstruct the planned build of the new road, demanding at the same time the government to exercise its lawful rights over the purchased lanes regardless if the late is coming in contradiction with local interests whatsoever and howsoever.
Consistently I dully appreciate and support your initiative thereto.
Kind Regards
Pantelis
Carl writes:
“Absolutely right to focus on this! It sounds like a truly staggering waste of money that could be much better spent elsewhere. The existing road may need upgrading for safety reasons, but let's avoid the damage to people's lives and the environment that a new one would create. Best of luck with this.
Regards”
Carl
“Absolutely right to focus on this! It sounds like a truly staggering waste of money that could be much better spent elsewhere. The existing road may need upgrading for safety reasons, but let's avoid the damage to people's lives and the environment that a new one would create. Best of luck with this.
Regards”
Carl
Penny writes:
"Hi
Re National reroute
A few thoughts
The answer is follow the money . Who owns the largest part of the land where the road is going and is going to get a huge payout from it. - usually someone who is already influential and wealthy or owns the company going to do the work.
Is there something else on the land that has not been disclosed? ie water or water rights , Oil or minerals?
Protests do not work - they still go ahead
How to stop them?
Others owning the land should not comply and should be supported by everyone else in case of reprisals or evictions,
People should stick together en masse. Silent sit down protests with no violence - they can’t arrest everyone.
If there are protected newts on the land that maybe could stop it or something else that is protected ?
is there a precedent ?
Penny
"Hi
Re National reroute
A few thoughts
The answer is follow the money . Who owns the largest part of the land where the road is going and is going to get a huge payout from it. - usually someone who is already influential and wealthy or owns the company going to do the work.
Is there something else on the land that has not been disclosed? ie water or water rights , Oil or minerals?
Protests do not work - they still go ahead
How to stop them?
Others owning the land should not comply and should be supported by everyone else in case of reprisals or evictions,
People should stick together en masse. Silent sit down protests with no violence - they can’t arrest everyone.
If there are protected newts on the land that maybe could stop it or something else that is protected ?
is there a precedent ?
Penny
Bob writes
Dear Pete: The New New National Road.
It is absolutely right for us to consider the environmental impact on the Apokoronas region of this planned road and as one of the coordinators of the Apokoronas Environmental Group, I feel we have to pay maximum attention to developments like this at an early stage and be prepared to make an input as and when appropriate.
As I understand it, at the moment, this is part of a Regional scheme. Therefore, what we need to do is to ascertain all the real information available about the effect this scheme might have on the Apokoronas region; to see what is planned, whether it makes sense, and if not to suggest reasoned alternatives, backed up by good solid facts.
However, the difficulty just now is that the facts are not fully available. You say that a 20-metre strip either side of the existing national road has already been purchased by the municipality some time ago, with a view to increasing the width of the road. So far, my efforts at confirming this have failed and I would be extremely grateful if you could give me a verifiable source for your information.
Also, it is my understanding that although an environmental impact survey of the Atsipopoulo - Petres section (outside of our area) has been completed (results unknown) there has been no such survey of the Petres to Vrysses section (within our area). If you know something different, again, I would be more than happy to receive the information. Without that survey, nothing is likely to be allowed to go ahead.
Finally, again as I understand it, the actually 'examination' of the feasibility of the proposal is not yet complete and has been extended until June 8th 2012.
One of your correspondents mentions the number of accidents on the national road and puts it down to the inadequacy of the road, but to me that is more of an emotional response than a factual one. I drove through the 60kph limit around Kavros yesterday (at 60kph) and was overtaken by no less than 23 vehicles (including 3 lorries and a couple of buses) travelling at far more than the limit. Any accident resulting from that behaviour has nothing to do with the road - more the stupidity and blatant arrogance of the other drivers. As long as drivers ignore the signs, accidents will happen. Many years ago, 7 Greek paratrooper were killed on a mainland highway 2 days before demob because the driver of their truck pulled out to overtake a slower vehicle and they all lost their lives in a head-on collision. The excuse given by the media and others was the inadequacy of the road! You can draw your own conclusions.
True, over- passes should be provided in the Kavros area to get pedestrians from hotels to shops, and that is a relatively cheap option and a good life-saver. That would be an objective worth pursuing irrespective of whether we end up with another road or not. Are you prepared to tackle that issue?
Another of your correspondents makes the point 'follow the money'. Well, one can't fault that one! It has to be remembered that money from the EU to improve the infrastructure has to be spent on just that - sad as it may be we can't divert it to feeding the needy! Somebody, somewhere probably stands to make a packet from the proposal; the difficulty will be in finding out who it is. How do you intend to go about that?
Despite what you might think from the above, in essence I agree with your general stance; why not enhance the existing national road? We don't need a 'New National Road'. The existing one could well be extended to make a better highway and to carry traffic more safely through the area. But come on! Look at motorways elsewhere in Europe, their traffic loads and then compare those with the Cretan National Road. Busy? What? It's marginally less busy than the M50 (Tewkesbury to Ross on Wye) on a Bank Holiday Monday, even in August when the Athenians come in their droves.
What we need, before lots of speculation and rhetoric present a possibly distorted view is facts. Are the allegations you make in Issue 12 of Gefyra about purchase of land by the Municipality, building on that land by hoteliers etc sustainable by evidence? At what stage are we with this? Has the planning phase finished? (apparently not). Has an environmental impact study of the area been done? If so, by whom and with what result? To what extent is it feasible to suggest an 'alternative route' to the one proposed in what appears to be a Regional scheme?
I see no value in chasing half-truths, misconceptions etc nor in stirring up public opinion and diverting people's efforts away from achievable objectives in pursuit of the unattainable.
Having declared my 'credentials' in my opening paragraph, I must stress that the above is a personal viewpoint and will not necessarily represent the views of my colleagues and members of the Environmental Group.
Bob
Dear Pete: The New New National Road.
It is absolutely right for us to consider the environmental impact on the Apokoronas region of this planned road and as one of the coordinators of the Apokoronas Environmental Group, I feel we have to pay maximum attention to developments like this at an early stage and be prepared to make an input as and when appropriate.
As I understand it, at the moment, this is part of a Regional scheme. Therefore, what we need to do is to ascertain all the real information available about the effect this scheme might have on the Apokoronas region; to see what is planned, whether it makes sense, and if not to suggest reasoned alternatives, backed up by good solid facts.
However, the difficulty just now is that the facts are not fully available. You say that a 20-metre strip either side of the existing national road has already been purchased by the municipality some time ago, with a view to increasing the width of the road. So far, my efforts at confirming this have failed and I would be extremely grateful if you could give me a verifiable source for your information.
Also, it is my understanding that although an environmental impact survey of the Atsipopoulo - Petres section (outside of our area) has been completed (results unknown) there has been no such survey of the Petres to Vrysses section (within our area). If you know something different, again, I would be more than happy to receive the information. Without that survey, nothing is likely to be allowed to go ahead.
Finally, again as I understand it, the actually 'examination' of the feasibility of the proposal is not yet complete and has been extended until June 8th 2012.
One of your correspondents mentions the number of accidents on the national road and puts it down to the inadequacy of the road, but to me that is more of an emotional response than a factual one. I drove through the 60kph limit around Kavros yesterday (at 60kph) and was overtaken by no less than 23 vehicles (including 3 lorries and a couple of buses) travelling at far more than the limit. Any accident resulting from that behaviour has nothing to do with the road - more the stupidity and blatant arrogance of the other drivers. As long as drivers ignore the signs, accidents will happen. Many years ago, 7 Greek paratrooper were killed on a mainland highway 2 days before demob because the driver of their truck pulled out to overtake a slower vehicle and they all lost their lives in a head-on collision. The excuse given by the media and others was the inadequacy of the road! You can draw your own conclusions.
True, over- passes should be provided in the Kavros area to get pedestrians from hotels to shops, and that is a relatively cheap option and a good life-saver. That would be an objective worth pursuing irrespective of whether we end up with another road or not. Are you prepared to tackle that issue?
Another of your correspondents makes the point 'follow the money'. Well, one can't fault that one! It has to be remembered that money from the EU to improve the infrastructure has to be spent on just that - sad as it may be we can't divert it to feeding the needy! Somebody, somewhere probably stands to make a packet from the proposal; the difficulty will be in finding out who it is. How do you intend to go about that?
Despite what you might think from the above, in essence I agree with your general stance; why not enhance the existing national road? We don't need a 'New National Road'. The existing one could well be extended to make a better highway and to carry traffic more safely through the area. But come on! Look at motorways elsewhere in Europe, their traffic loads and then compare those with the Cretan National Road. Busy? What? It's marginally less busy than the M50 (Tewkesbury to Ross on Wye) on a Bank Holiday Monday, even in August when the Athenians come in their droves.
What we need, before lots of speculation and rhetoric present a possibly distorted view is facts. Are the allegations you make in Issue 12 of Gefyra about purchase of land by the Municipality, building on that land by hoteliers etc sustainable by evidence? At what stage are we with this? Has the planning phase finished? (apparently not). Has an environmental impact study of the area been done? If so, by whom and with what result? To what extent is it feasible to suggest an 'alternative route' to the one proposed in what appears to be a Regional scheme?
I see no value in chasing half-truths, misconceptions etc nor in stirring up public opinion and diverting people's efforts away from achievable objectives in pursuit of the unattainable.
Having declared my 'credentials' in my opening paragraph, I must stress that the above is a personal viewpoint and will not necessarily represent the views of my colleagues and members of the Environmental Group.
Bob
Jørgen writes
Comment on a new highway through the beautiful Greek countryside.
Stop this!!!! Renovate the existing road and use these many millions for alternative projects.
Maintenance of existing road network, for example there are life-threatening holes in the asphalt. An unfortunate citizen/tourist will sue Apokoronas municipality for millions in the event of an accident. We can not offer our citizens and tourists such a low standard of our roads in Apokoronas
The most congested traffic areas where tourists come and go on the road to the sea could be changed to a road tunnel
Make an architects’ competition about this, so there could be some creative solutions brought to light. That way all citizens/tourists have a route to the sea that is beautiful, calm and safe.
Jørgen
Comment on a new highway through the beautiful Greek countryside.
Stop this!!!! Renovate the existing road and use these many millions for alternative projects.
Maintenance of existing road network, for example there are life-threatening holes in the asphalt. An unfortunate citizen/tourist will sue Apokoronas municipality for millions in the event of an accident. We can not offer our citizens and tourists such a low standard of our roads in Apokoronas
The most congested traffic areas where tourists come and go on the road to the sea could be changed to a road tunnel
Make an architects’ competition about this, so there could be some creative solutions brought to light. That way all citizens/tourists have a route to the sea that is beautiful, calm and safe.
Jørgen
Alyn writes:
Editor
Re: New National Road Petres - Vrysses
Whilst I fully appreciate the thinking behind removing fast traffic hazards from the coastal road through the tourist resorts of Kavros and Georgioupolis, I have to question the cost v benefit of re-routing the entire existing road both in terms of safety and environmental impact.
Surely, the application of some basic principles of health and safety would achieve the desired goal of managing the hazard at a fraction of the proposed costs of re-routing the highway. And yes, I do hear the accumulated yawn of many of your readers to the very mention of Health and Safety, however, properly applied these principles should be explored as part of the cost analysis and environmental impact process for this scheme.
These are:
1. Separation of pedestrians and traffic: This could be achieved through the use of landscaping, barriers and fencing along side the existing road.
2. Safe access and egress: The use of overpasses, underpasses and adequate signage would allow for safe pedestrian access and egress to the shops, beaches and hotels along the road.
3. Control of traffic speed: The introduction of roundabouts and or traffic lights at all major junctions along this part of the highway. Introduction of new signage and lighting to the existing road and speed control measures, including cameras, that actually work and are acted on!
4. Control of noise: Lowering the existing road and introduction of road side landscaping (planted banking) to reduce noise levels should be considered.
I do question whether a full cost benefit analysis and risk assessment have been carried out, and if they have why is it that the only control measure appears to be the re-routing of the entire section of highway through farm lands and the natural beauty spots of the area. Yes this will remove the bulk of the highway traffic from Kavros and Georgioupolis, but surely the road would still be in use by local traffic and coaches picking up and dropping off tourists etc. The simple re-routing of the road will not necessarily remove the existing hazards, and safety improvements to the road would still need to be undertaken.
Once again I feel that Politicians have been seduced by the promise of EU money and little thought has been given to the overall impact of such a scheme on the existing environment and even less thought given to the proper consultation and engagement of the local electorate. Hopefully, these very people will remember this when it comes to the local elections next time round!! I would have thought by now that Politicians would have learned that a lack of transparency and engagement with the electorate leads to rumor, accusation and disillusionment with the governing body, be it National Government, Regional Government or Local Government.
Kind regards,
Alyn
Editor
Re: New National Road Petres - Vrysses
Whilst I fully appreciate the thinking behind removing fast traffic hazards from the coastal road through the tourist resorts of Kavros and Georgioupolis, I have to question the cost v benefit of re-routing the entire existing road both in terms of safety and environmental impact.
Surely, the application of some basic principles of health and safety would achieve the desired goal of managing the hazard at a fraction of the proposed costs of re-routing the highway. And yes, I do hear the accumulated yawn of many of your readers to the very mention of Health and Safety, however, properly applied these principles should be explored as part of the cost analysis and environmental impact process for this scheme.
These are:
1. Separation of pedestrians and traffic: This could be achieved through the use of landscaping, barriers and fencing along side the existing road.
2. Safe access and egress: The use of overpasses, underpasses and adequate signage would allow for safe pedestrian access and egress to the shops, beaches and hotels along the road.
3. Control of traffic speed: The introduction of roundabouts and or traffic lights at all major junctions along this part of the highway. Introduction of new signage and lighting to the existing road and speed control measures, including cameras, that actually work and are acted on!
4. Control of noise: Lowering the existing road and introduction of road side landscaping (planted banking) to reduce noise levels should be considered.
I do question whether a full cost benefit analysis and risk assessment have been carried out, and if they have why is it that the only control measure appears to be the re-routing of the entire section of highway through farm lands and the natural beauty spots of the area. Yes this will remove the bulk of the highway traffic from Kavros and Georgioupolis, but surely the road would still be in use by local traffic and coaches picking up and dropping off tourists etc. The simple re-routing of the road will not necessarily remove the existing hazards, and safety improvements to the road would still need to be undertaken.
Once again I feel that Politicians have been seduced by the promise of EU money and little thought has been given to the overall impact of such a scheme on the existing environment and even less thought given to the proper consultation and engagement of the local electorate. Hopefully, these very people will remember this when it comes to the local elections next time round!! I would have thought by now that Politicians would have learned that a lack of transparency and engagement with the electorate leads to rumor, accusation and disillusionment with the governing body, be it National Government, Regional Government or Local Government.
Kind regards,
Alyn
Tessa writes:
I write to register my dismay at the proposal to build a new National Highway through Apokoronas. From what I have read, an ‘aerial’ motorway is being considered, which will strip the whole area of its natural beauty.
I agree that currently the section of the National Highway between Dramia and Georgioupolis is hazardous for pedestrians trying to get to the beach, due to the speed of traffic. Why not, therefore, address this particular issue by putting roundabouts at, say, six kilometer intervals, or wherever they are deemed to be most appropriate, which would act as a traffic-calming exercise (and would also provide a legitimate means for vehicles to turn left or right off the National Highway and put an end to the illegal method currently in practice!!). Intermittent pedestrian bridges spanning the road would also offer an increased level of safety, especially for families with young children, as would up-grading the current under-passes.
My first reaction to the news of an aerial motorway was to picture other areas of Crete with this type of by-pass. They generally boast a ‘strip’ with scores of hotels, apartments, bars, shops and restaurants pulsating to a never-ending, pounding, neon-lit beat. And I thought to myself - does someone REALLY want to bring that to Kavros/Georgioupolis? And then answered myself - yes, they probably do. It’s an area ripe for development in any speculator’s eyes. I can only hope my grim assumptions are wrong.
However, surely a scheme of this magnitude could not possibly be under consideration just because of (a) the current volume of National Highway traffic, or (b) pedestrians at risk?
Whatever the eventual truth turns out to be, decisions must be made based upon well-informed appraisals being obtained from architects and engineers with the appropriate qualifications to find a satisfactory solution to the pressing problems concerning the National Highway.
Regards,
TESSA
I write to register my dismay at the proposal to build a new National Highway through Apokoronas. From what I have read, an ‘aerial’ motorway is being considered, which will strip the whole area of its natural beauty.
I agree that currently the section of the National Highway between Dramia and Georgioupolis is hazardous for pedestrians trying to get to the beach, due to the speed of traffic. Why not, therefore, address this particular issue by putting roundabouts at, say, six kilometer intervals, or wherever they are deemed to be most appropriate, which would act as a traffic-calming exercise (and would also provide a legitimate means for vehicles to turn left or right off the National Highway and put an end to the illegal method currently in practice!!). Intermittent pedestrian bridges spanning the road would also offer an increased level of safety, especially for families with young children, as would up-grading the current under-passes.
My first reaction to the news of an aerial motorway was to picture other areas of Crete with this type of by-pass. They generally boast a ‘strip’ with scores of hotels, apartments, bars, shops and restaurants pulsating to a never-ending, pounding, neon-lit beat. And I thought to myself - does someone REALLY want to bring that to Kavros/Georgioupolis? And then answered myself - yes, they probably do. It’s an area ripe for development in any speculator’s eyes. I can only hope my grim assumptions are wrong.
However, surely a scheme of this magnitude could not possibly be under consideration just because of (a) the current volume of National Highway traffic, or (b) pedestrians at risk?
Whatever the eventual truth turns out to be, decisions must be made based upon well-informed appraisals being obtained from architects and engineers with the appropriate qualifications to find a satisfactory solution to the pressing problems concerning the National Highway.
Regards,
TESSA