**Paphos Municipality Addresses Safety Concerns After Emergency Tree Pruning**
Paphos, Cyprus - The Paphos municipality took swift action on Thursday to clear tree branches left on a pavement near the Archbishop Makarios III lyceum, following concerns raised by local residents. The branches, which had been left on 1st April Avenue after an emergency tree pruning operation by the fire service, were obstructing pedestrian pathways and posed a potential road safety hazard.
The emergency pruning was initiated on Wednesday night when firefighters responded to a report of a tree trunk that had partially broken. Due to the risk of further branch shedding, the fire service deemed the trees hazardous and carried out the necessary pruning without prior notification to the municipality.
Acting Mayor Angelos Onisiforou explained that the municipality was not informed about the tree pruning incident until they learned of it through media reports on Monday morning. Upon becoming aware of the situation, municipal crews were dispatched to the location to remove the fallen branches and clean the area.
Local residents expressed their concerns about the branches obstructing the pavement, which forced some pedestrians to walk on the road, increasing the risk of accidents. Reports indicated that there was at least one near miss involving a passer-by, highlighting the urgency of the municipality's response.
Onisiforou emphasized the municipality's commitment to public safety, stating that they remain on standby to address incidents that may pose risks to the community. The prompt clearance of the branches is part of the municipality's ongoing efforts to ensure safe and accessible public spaces for all residents and visitors.
As the situation develops, the municipality is expected to review its communication protocols with emergency services to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Residents are encouraged to report any safety concerns to the municipality to ensure timely responses to potential hazards.