Notice-response to Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas regarding the hill of Strefi, issued by the faction “Athina Psila” and the leader Kostas Bakoyannis. It is entitled “The truth about the Hill of Strefi” and initially states:

“In the announcement issued by the municipality of Athens regarding the hill of Strefi, the current municipal authority does not say, for the umpteenth time unfortunately, a word about the substance. The reality, however, is decisive.”

As he elaborates further, “the CoE did not stop the projects, it approved them. The Municipal Authority refers to the decision of the Council of State, noting – falsely – that “an order was issued to stop the works”. To restore the truth, we mention that under no. 367/2023 decision of the Council of Ministers allows the continuation of all works on the hill, with the exception of the temporary stoppage of work (and not a permanent stop) for the so-called Belvedere (viewpoint).

The redevelopment is in the middle and they are stopping it. It is also false that nothing has been done and that reconstruction has not begun. If three months after his election, the mayor still hasn’t been informed, it’s a problem. If he’s been informed and he’s lying, it’s a problem again. And it is indiscernible which of the two is worse.

Significant work has been done, but the project remains unfinished. The remaining works are particularly important, not only for the completion of the project, but also for the safe accessibility of visitors to the site, as for example, the electric lighting network may have been completed, but if the masts and lights are not installed, parts of the hill they will remain dark. On the slopes where there were phenomena of rock precipitation, the installation of nets and retaining fences did not proceed, as a result of which they are still dangerous for visitors.

The following are indicative tasks that are not implemented due to the interruption:

– Installation of new masts and lighting.

– Installation of anchored nets on the rocky slopes to prevent further degradation and to protect visitors from possible rock falls.

– Rain ridge drainage network to protect the soil -especially in the northern part of the hill- from erosion.

– Placement of geogrids in areas with severe erosion for soil retention and healthy growth of vegetation.

– Installation of a rock fall arrest fence to protect visitors to the hill.

– Ridge path support works in the Kite Square area to address further erosion of the main path.

– Renovation works of the existing building to create a toilet for the disabled”.

The announcement then asks the question “who will put up the money?” and it is stated: “The new municipal Authority should explain how and if it intends to implement the remaining works. Will it follow the approved studies? If so, why didn’t he let the sponsor finish them, without the citizens being financially burdened? Disagrees with approved studies? Will he write other studies? How soon will this happen? Will he auction another project and when? With what resources?

For this reason, we ask the municipal authority to share with us its planning for the said project and to answer us clearly how the reconstruction of Strefi will proceed with the departure of the donor? What tasks will he complete for the safety of the residents and which ones will be pending? On what budget? With what study? With what source of funding? On what schedule?

Today the executives of ANTARSYA and the known unknowns are celebrating. Not the residents of the area, not those of us who worry about the future of the city and seek its progress. It is easy to tear down, but difficult to build up. It is easy to stop a project, especially when it is a pre-election agreement under the table. The difficult thing is to start it, having planned and ensured all of the above and to continue it against the interests of known strangers”.

The municipal faction “Athina Psila” and Kostas Bakoyannis conclude: “Let the municipal authorities realize that all we are asking is for them to tell us how and by what means they will make Strefi’s hill safe and accessible to the residents of the area. This is the only thing that matters for Athens and its inhabitants.”