On July 24, 2026, a woman sustained injuries after falling on the stairs of a café located in the shopping district of Paphos. Witnesses contacted emergency services for medical assistance, but the ambulance dispatched by Paphos General Hospital was unable to reach the victim. The vehicle was forced to stop at a considerable distance from the café because metal bollards, installed by the municipality across the area, blocked all access routes to the scene.

The incident triggered widespread public outrage among witnesses and local business owners. Critics argued that the widespread installation of these bollards in recent years—originally intended to prevent illegal parking—has negatively impacted both local commerce and the safety of the town centre. Bystanders expressed concern that the woman could not be moved immediately due to the risk of exacerbating her injuries, resulting in a significant delay in receiving professional care.

This incident has intensified existing local grievances regarding municipal urban planning decisions. The community claims that the restrictive measures have created dangerous conditions for emergency responders, as the infrastructure currently prevents critical vehicles from navigating the shopping district during crises.