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Referendum in Neckarsulm: defeat for the redesign of the Schlossplatz!
Referendum in Neckarsulm on Schlossplatz failed: 76% reject redesign, city planning must be realigned.
Referendum in Neckarsulm: defeat for the redesign of the Schlossplatz!
The referendum to redesign the Schlossplatz in Neckarsulm failed. How SWR reported, on Sunday, May 25, around 76 percent of voters voted against the planned measures. This result means that the Schlossplatz remains unchanged. The local council had previously decided to redesign the area with an investment of almost 2.5 million euros, which is now finally off the table.
Voter turnout was about 35 percent, which reached the legally required quorum of 20 percent. Despite the great interest in the topic, the discussion about it was sometimes heated. The citizens' initiative, which was against the conversion, accused the local council of wasting tax money and spoke out in favor of preserving the existing parking spaces. The city administration, however, saw the project as an important measure to improve the city center.
Arguments for and against the redesign
The referendum was directed against the decisions of the local council, which considered an ecological upgrade of the square to be necessary. Mayor Steffen Hertwig addressed the public in an open letter and criticized the confusion caused by the striking statements made by the citizens' initiative's representatives. These mixed different topics and contained inaccurate allegations, which is why the city administration sought clarification in order to keep the discussion based on facts Neckarsulm.de accessible in detail.
More and more cities in Germany are relying on citizen participation to improve planning and building culture. An analysis of the Goethe Institute that professional support in citizen decision-making processes is increasingly in demand. It is important to establish transparent and participatory processes in order to improve the dialogue between citizens and politicians. This could also be important in Neckarsulm, especially given the heated discussions about the redesign of the Schlossplatz.
With the failed referendum, the city now has to realign its plans for inner city development. Citizens' expectations of lively and participatory urban planning remain high. Future projects are therefore likely to be influenced by this vote in order to promote acceptance among citizens.