Kochel is aiming for village renewal: the municipal council makes a fundamental decision

Created: 07/07/2022, 18:00

By: Christiane Mühlbauer

Since the end of the corona restrictions, the Kochler municipal council has met again in the town hall.

© arp

A lot can be set in motion with the financial support from the village renewal program.

In the municipality of Kochel, the districts in particular can benefit from this.

Citizens must be involved in implementation.

Kochel am See – Numerous communities in the Tölzer Land have already benefited from the village renewal funding program, for example Bichl and Benediktbeuern.

At the most recent meeting, the Kochler municipal council also made the fundamental decision to be included in the village development program.

What is funded?

Mayor Thomas Holz (CSU) presented the program.

It runs through the State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

In Bavaria, 60 percent of the population lives in rural areas.

"The aim is to promote and secure equal living conditions by strengthening rural communities," said Holz.

For example, the revitalization and conversion of vacant buildings, village-friendly facilities to promote the community, the construction and renovation of small monuments, fountains and shrines, for example, as well as the preservation and restoration of valuable cultural-historical gardens and open spaces are funded.

As part of the program, Holz said, one could "consider very specifically where we see our community in ten or twenty years."

Of course you do that now, said Holz, but it is now about a basic determination that leads to a concept, also in relation to Kochler's long-running issues such as traffic, public transport, energy transition, youth and senior citizen work and volunteering.

Citizens are involved

The active participation of citizens is characteristic of the village renewal program, said Holz.

In addition, there are subsidies “in a not inconsiderable amount” for the development and implementation of the measures.

The quotas are not rigid, but the individual grants are always determined for the project in question.

There is up to 70 percent funding for planning and advice and up to 60 percent for measures in the common and public interest.

Private individuals can also benefit from the funding program.

Owners who take measures to improve the townscape, for example, can count on a financial subsidy of up to 35 percent of the expenses.

"Perhaps one can persuade one or the other owner to carry out appropriate renovations on his building in the sense of our then developed concept," said Holz

Community development concept is created

The next step is a joint seminar in the "School of Village and Country Development" in Thierhaupten.

Here it should be considered whether to set up a community development concept, which is then developed with the citizens.

The various districts of Kochel are the main beneficiaries of the village renewal program.

The main town, on the other hand, can - due to the size of the population - draw on funds from the urban development program.

The two don't get in each other's way.

However, the community development concept applies to all parts of the community, explained Holz, and the money for implementation then just flows from different pots.

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The council was open to the idea.

It is important "to initiate something forward-looking for the next few decades," said Mathias Graf (CSU).

"It's extremely positive for the small districts," said Sonja Mayer (centre).

Klaus Barthel (SPD) made a similar statement.

The decision was unanimous.

The administration will now initiate further preparations for participation.

You can find more current news from the region around Bad Tölz at Merkur.de/Bad Tölz.