Gilching's town hall as the first point of contact

Created: 09.03.2022, 20:00

By: Hanna von Prittwitz

As early as 2015, the town hall gymnasium functioned as accommodation for refugees.

© Andrea Jaksch

The Gilching town hall gymnasium becomes initial accommodation for refugees from the Ukraine for the district of Starnberg.

The hall should be prepared as soon as possible.

Gilching

– Up to 150 people who have fled the Ukraine are to receive initial accommodation in the district in the Gilchinger Rathausturnhalle.

The district office made the decision yesterday.

"In view of the allocations to be expected, we have no other option than to set up a gym for the first-time arrivals," explained District Administrator Stefan Frey.

"They should arrive there, rest and be fed before we transfer them to private accommodation or accommodation rented by the district office," says Frey, describing the procedure.

The gymnasium in Gilching is a good idea, according to the district office in a press release.

It was already in operation during the last wave of refugees in 2015.

"We can fall back on existing structures, concepts and experiences here," said Frey.

The district office is currently busy ordering floors, beds, lockers and hygiene items for equipping the hall.

“We are already in contact with the aid organizations, which have already assured us of their support with set-up and care.

Thank you very much for that, too,” says Frey.

The town hall gym should be a kind of hub in which those who arrive are registered and tested for Corona.

This would include medical examinations.

The government of Upper Bavaria asked the districts to provide such a facility.

Peter Kramer, President of TSV Gilching-Argelsried, who uses the hall, found out about the new plans yesterday morning.

"Of course we immediately consulted Mayor Manfred Walter and considered what to do," said Kramer yesterday afternoon.

"But we've already been tried and tested there." A few years ago, the hall had to be closed due to damage to the roof.

In 2015, it served as emergency accommodation during the refugee crisis.

Where possible, the athletes would now be sent outdoors, other offers would be shortened.

"And the table tennis players, for example, move to the other hall." The TSV will proceed as it did seven years ago.

However, Kramer assumes that the hall will be needed longer.

"It was foreseeable at the time.

It's not this time." The people wanted to go back to their country, but no one knew

when that is possible.

His appeal to the members: "We will move closer together."