Works to the value of €4,513,000 for renewing the pavements along the Old National Road between Platanias and Kolymbari have been announced by the Municipality. They will be funded through the Antonis Tritsis Regional Development and Solidarity programme for 2020-23. (Haniotika Nea, 20-04-23)
The plans announced by the Municipality of Platanias envisage the restoration and widening of sidewalks along the length of the Old National Road with new lighting and street furniture. A new cable network and energy-saving LED lamps will be installed along the length of the route Maleme-Tavronitis-Kolymbari, while the new street furniture will include built-up seating, wooden benches and small rubbish bins, etc
The sidewalks will cover a distance of 6.2 km on either side of the highway, starting at the Maleme sports ground and ending at the community doctor’s surgery in Kolymbari. The route will therefore run through the communities of Maleme, Tavronitis, Kamisiana, Rapaniana, Skoutelonas, Minothiana and Kolymbari.
In Kolymbari, the route will include a section running from the SYNKA crossroads down past the Avra Hotel to the doctor’s surgery in the former police station. The section between Maleme and Tavronitis will run inside the old Maleme aerodrome, a 6-metre wide strip having been ceded to the Municipality to construct pavements and a cycle track.
In a written statement, the mayor of Platanias Giannis Malandrakis commented: “This is the first time that a section of the historic Maleme Aerodrome has been made available, responding to a long-standing request of the Municipality. The project will complete the renewal of the pavements along the whole length of the Old National Road within the Municipality’s administrative boundaries, complementing the section from Platanias to Maleme which was completed in previous years, and thus creating a unified sidewalk system approximately 12 km in length along the highway.”
The Municipality’s plans for Maleme Aerodrome
Various plans have been hatched over the years for the transformation of the old Maleme Aerodrome, one of the main sites where the airborne invasion of the Battle of Crete took place. The main public airport for Chania until 1959, today it houses a collection of historic jet fighters and is a base for the Aeroclub of Chania, but otherwise is used only for occasional military exercises, and air displays on dates of historic national importance.
It is the ambition of the Municipality of Platanias to acquire the site from the Ministry of Defence for leisure purposes. In earlier comments to the Haniotika Nea (14/02/23), the mayor noted that the Municipality had made two requests in 2011 which were outstanding. The first was for the creation of an exhibition space for temporary exhibitions and digital displays relating to the Battle of Crete, and the second was for the ceding of the 6-metre strip alongside the road to create a space for walkers and cyclists – which has now come to fruition. He also noted that at the time there had been various proposals for creating a casino on the site which the Municipality had vetoed and which they remain firmly opposed to.
The Aeroclub of Chania has also had ambitions for the site. Its President, Kosmas Kimionis told Haniotika Nea that the aerodrome could be used for air tourism, accommodating small 15-20 seater jets and offering facilities for parachute-jumping, paragliding and other airborne sports. However, the Army had always vetoed such uses, he said.