Store, car park owners react to plan for pedestrianized Athens centre

Small store owners and the owners of car parks in the centre of Athens have expressed their disagreement with a municipal plan to create a large traffic-free zone in the capital, saying it would ruin their business.

The plan, dubbed the Grand Walk of Athens, which aims to encourage on-foot exploration by tourists, will be pilot-tested on Thursday.

Theodoros Reppas, the head of a newly founded committee of about 150 shop owners located on and near the main thoroughfares of Athinas and Ermou Streets (from Monastiraki to Asomaton), said there is no other area of Athens where people can find so many wholesale hardware stores, or stores selling paint, plumbing, electrical and electronic items.

"Athinas Street has always been a street of tradespeople. Their shops are focused on them," Reppas said.

"By banning vehicles, we expel professionals from Athinas and...