Children and infants are repeatedly being woken up in the night by severe nighttime noise pollution which is occurring daily in Limassol, according to Agios Tychonas resident James Smith.
He tells en.philenews that: “despite repeated issues being reported, there is a perceived lack of effective, enforcement on the ground, which has allowed this behavior to continue unchecked and escalate over time,” and that the response from the police and municipality has been very weak.
He says the problem is caused by motorcycles operating without registration plates, that have “illegally modified, excessively loud exhaust systems, as well as deliberate engine revving and aggressive acceleration at traffic lights, and repeated reckless driving and nighttime racing behavior.”
Smith has provided several video examples of the problem, one of which is below:
Smith describes the impact on the community as both serious and undeniable, adding that residents are being made to suffer through ongoing sleep deprivation and stress while the overall quality of life in the area significantly deteriorates, the reputation of a key tourism zone is being actively damaged, and the local sense of order, safety, and public respect is rapidly weakening.
He is now formally appealing not only to local enforcement authorities, but also to relevant municipal bodies, tourism organisations, environmental and public health stakeholders, and community institutions to:
- exert coordinated pressure for immediate and consistent enforcement
- ensure visible and effective night-time policing (20:00–04:00)
- strictly penalise illegal exhaust systems and unregistered vehicles
- remove non-compliant motorcycles from circulation
- implement targeted noise-control operations in known hotspots
- and most importantly, restore lawful order and nighttime peace.
“In addition, we strongly request the initiation of a public discussion or formal consultation involving residents, authorities, and relevant stakeholders to address this issue transparently and develop a sustainable long-term solution.
“Silence or inaction is no longer an option. The situation is affecting families every single night and undermining both community wellbeing and the image of the area.”
en.philenews contacted the authorities for comment. Marios Charalambous, head of Limassol Traffic Police said: “We acknowledge there is a problem in the Ayios Tychonas and Amathuntos Avenue area. Police are conducting nightly patrols, as well as campaigns in the affected areas to respond to the problem.”