Island pool with a view

Created: 05/31/2022, 11:43 am

By: Ulrike Osman

The topic par excellence at the Landsberg citizens' meeting on Monday evening: the Inselbad and the question of whether bathers can still access the terrace.

© Greiner

Landsberg – Essentially, there was only one topic at the Landsberg citizens' meeting this year: the conversion of the Inselbad and the future of the terrace, which is so popular with bathers.

There is great concern that with gastronomy independent of the bathroom, the terrace will no longer be as usable as before.

Mayor Doris Baumgartl (UBV) deliberately pushed the topic of the island pool to the end in her more than one and a half hour report in front of the lecture hall of the sports center, which was packed with around 100 listeners.

This resulted in a direct transition to the question and answer session, which turned out to be lively as expected.

In her citizen's letter for the month of May, Baumgartl had already tried to allay fears about access to the terrace from the swimming pool area.

The planned restaurant on the upper floor of the new Inselbad building should be accessible independently of the bathing operation.

During the season, however, a separate access option from the pool to the restaurant can be created for visitors to the Inselbad.

Baumgartl also underlined this at the citizens' meeting.

Outlook and control view

However, many Inselbad users are startled.

"The terrace on the upper floor is the most important thing for bathers next to the swimming pool," said one participant to applause from those present.

The area offers an incomparable view of the Lech weir - the view in particular is one aspect that makes the location attractive for a restaurant - and at the same time you have the opportunity to have "a control view" of the children in the pool, according to another listener.

One of those present strongly doubted that children in wet bathing suits would be allowed onto the terrace.

In the planner's visualizations, she saw "only people dressed up" on the terrace, which was smaller than it is now anyway, added another listener.

A citizen complained that Baumgartl's assurances regarding the use of the terrace were too vague and uncertain.

Another fear expressed was that the planning was more about the new gastronomy than about the Inselbad.

However, Baumgartl wants to accommodate year-round use at the attractive location.

"I think it's wrong to spend this amount of money for four and a half months of use a year," said the mayor.

The cost estimate for the Inselbad renovation plus new construction is currently 18 million euros.

The accusation was raised several times that the wishes of long-term users of the Inselbad were not taken seriously.

Baumgartl had referred to the survey results from 2017, which had shown that a majority of the island pool was in favor of year-round use.

However, one participant criticized that at the time it was only a question of a survey by the public utility company and not a qualitative public participation, as is now to be carried out, for example, in the upgrading of the northern old town.

fulfill wishes

Another concern of many Inselbad regular guests concerns the future operator of the restaurant.

After all, the access regulations would also depend on him.

Baumgartl pointed out that it was the city that would choose the tenant - ideally someone who would run both the restaurant and the planned kiosk in the swimming pool.

"And why should we choose someone who doesn't reflect what you desire?"

Nevertheless, the citizens' motion mentioned at the beginning to keep the terrace with direct access for bathers found a clear majority in the voting among those present.

Baumgartl promised to take the points of criticism and suggestions with him.

Positive voices about the Inselbad plans were in the minority that evening, but they were there.

A senior citizen asked why gastronomy was so demonized.

Older people who could no longer go to the bathroom would have the opportunity to continue to enjoy the unique location.

A disabled woman made a similar statement.

You cannot use the bathroom, but you will visit the restaurant – and do not see either as a contradiction.

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»boring block«

Other comments related to the planned architecture of the building (“a boring rectangular block”) and a possible reduction in the size of the lying area – which, according to Baumgartl, would be “not significant”.

The pool structure and the relocation of the children's pool were also criticized.

An attraction such as a slide is missing here.

A citizen called for benches around the pools and a covered outdoor area as a changing room.

Some of the citizens had already left when, towards the end of the three-hour event, topics other than the Inselbad were addressed.

A resident of the Englischer Garten complained about frequent nocturnal party noise and rubbish in this area and missed appropriate countermeasures by the city.

The English Garden is also so full of dog excrement that parents would rather stay on the street with their children than go into the countryside.

Another citizen called for a more careful handling of natural areas - he referred to the planned open space PV system in Friedheim, which in his eyes takes up too much space.