Old town in Wolfratshausen: LAW boss criticizes "fake news" and defends controversial plan
Created: 05/19/2022Updated: 05/19/2022 11:47 am
By: Dominik Stallein
The Marienplatz in the old town of Wolfratshausen: Ernst Gröbmair would like the Marienplatz to be enlarged.
There is criticism of the relocation of the well – the LAW boss calls it “fake news”. © Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
LAW boss Ernst Gröbmair firmly rejects criticism of the old town plans.
He is certain: The Wolfratshauser Marktstraße can be revitalized.
Wolfratshausen – The association already has its goal in its name: lively old town of Wolfratshausen.
Chairman Ernst Gröbmair is certain that the living room in Loisachstadt can be revived.
The plans for this are already on the table.
The real estate agent is all the more surprised by the fierce criticism that has been sparked by the measures to upgrade the old town.
Gröbmair would like to clean up with some "fake news", as he calls them - and asserts: "The measure is a priority project."
Wolfratshausen old town renovation: LAW boss criticizes “fake news” and defends fountain shift
Opinions differ, especially on part of the old town planning: According to the decision, the Marienbrunnen is to be moved by a few meters in the direction of Marktstraße.
The goal is to increase the space between the parish church and the fountain.
A big step for Gröbmair: "A city with a market street like Wolfratshausen needs a market place." The expansion of the Marienplatz, which is ideally suited for this - near the town hall, tavern next to it, symbolic center through the church - could be an opportunity to hold events like a larger one there Advent market, the weekly green market, concerts or special events such as the annual white dinner.
The space is just too small at the moment.
Wolfratshausen old town: “Fake News” about Marienbrunnen and Co
What surprises Gröbmair: "Incorrect information is currently being distributed to citizens," he says.
On the one hand by political groups, on the other hand by writers of letters to the editor.
"It is amazing that no one has dealt with the facts of citizen participation and the plans that are publicly available." The measure came from the citizen participation process that began in 2018.
The results are all available online.
According to Gröbmair, some of the false claims could be quickly refuted there.
So it is wrong that the fountain will only be one meter away from the street in the future: "The street is getting narrower, the fountain is exactly the same distance away as it is now," says Gröbmair.
The state building authority in Weilheim has already given its blessing to all projects from the participation process.
Marienbrunnen in Wolfratshausen has often been renovated - is it also being moved?
The Wolfratshauser list recently rumbled against the measure and, given the reported costs of 200,000 euros, spoke of an "incredible waste of money".
Gröbmair sees it completely differently.
"It should be noted that repairs and maintenance of the fountain have repeatedly cost between 10,000 and 20,000 euros in recent decades." In addition, the costs for upgrading the old town with its individual projects are not borne by the municipality alone : "The relocation and upgrading of the well would even be included in the urban development subsidy," explains Gröbmair.
"Is there anything cheaper?"
You can read the latest news from Wolfratshausen, Geretsried and the surrounding area here
The plane trees on the square should remain.
However, critics worry that the trees' roots could be damaged by the well relocation and the trees could ultimately be felled.
Gröbmair does not share this concern: He even sees an advantage if the well, which acts as a barrier underground, is relocated.
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Relocating the fountain is just one of several measures to be implemented as part of the upgrading of the old town.
Another piece of the jigsaw is the level expansion of the road and pavement between Bahnhofstrasse and Schwankl-Eck.
This measure was also discussed controversially.
Some critics feared that heavy rain would flood shops and homes.
Gröbmair counters: "That is an absolutely false assertion." It has been stated several times - by planners and mayors alike - that "a complete redesign of the rainwater drainage is necessary" - regardless of whether the street is at the same height or not.
The head of the LAW sees disinformation above all on the part of the Wolfratshauser list: "They specifically want citizens who have not dealt with the matter,
Old town redevelopment in Wolfratshausen: association has been promoting market street revitalization for years
The LAW boss wants to fight back.
Since 2012, the association has been trying to get citizens on board with surveys, information stands and its own ideas.
Gröbmair sees this as a reason why the participation process was supported by an "enormously high level of citizen participation".
For him it is clear that the measures designed by citizens, experts and politicians should now also be implemented.
You can read all the news from Wolfratshausen here.
After all, it is important to turn the historic old town into a crowd puller again.
"For that we need people, and we have to offer them something."
"With our old town, we have an incredible jewel in a deep slumber," says Gröbmair.
"We have to remove the thorns." There is now "a chance that won't come back any time soon" for the long-desired revival.
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