Shopkeepers and residents in Strovolos have created a resistance group to oppose plans for a roundabout and widening of a road in the Nicosia suburb, saying it will destroy trade and quality of life.

According to an announcement from the ‘Stavros Initiative Group’, the urban planning department plans to widen Stavros Avenue and create a roundabout at the junction with Iosif Hadjiosif Avenue.

The group is circulating a statement in the media and on social media calling for signatures of residents and the general public to support them.

It says the project is not “progress” but “a trap”.

“Friends and neighbours, you were told that there would be redevelopment, that traffic would be ‘improved’, that everything was being done for our good,” the statement says.

However, it added what people were not told was that the local authorities want to build a four-lane road in front of their homes and that all resident parking space would be lost.

In addition, pavements would be narrowed, shops would have to close and “families will leave” the area.

“Pollution, noise, speed will turn all of Iosif Hadjiiosif Avenue and part of Stavros Avenue into an expressway,” the group said.

“And all this, without a study of sustainable mobility. Without dialogue. Without respect.”

On Stavros Avenue, it added, there are schools, kindergartens, churches, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and families, who would all be “in immediate danger”.

The group denies it is saying no to progress but says that it is instead it is saying no to more concrete and to fragmented solutions that only serve passing traffic.

They are calling for the two-lane road to be left as it is with more green spaces, trees, benches and bicycle lanes with safe movement for all without obstacles.

“We must not make concessions. We must fight for a sustainable, humane, functional area,” the group said.

According to newspaper Phileleftheros, Strovolos mayor Stavros Stavrinides said that his municipality is awaiting the official presentation of the project by the planning department.

He did say he thought the project had some good features as it will decongest Strovolos and the entrance to the capital.

However, he did not rule out that the local authority may even reject the project entirely if it becomes clear that there is complete and total opposition from residents.