Energy crisis: "Small solution" for the Christmas lights in Schongau

Created: 10/11/2022, 10:00 am

By: Elena Siegl

There will be Christmas lights again this year in the Münzstrasse.

© HANS-HELMUT HEROLD (archive)

In view of the energy crisis, should there be Christmas lights in the old town again this year?

The Schongau city council dealt with this question.

Schongau – The Christmas tree will definitely come, Mayor Falk Sluyterman made that clear at the most recent city council meeting when asked by Susanne Tischner (UWV).

"We don't need a debate like in Peiting here".

At around 100 euros, the savings are small anyway.

In view of the energy crisis, however, it was still unclear how the Christmas lights in the streets should be dealt with this year.

Gregor Schuppe (ALS) questioned whether one wanted to save money or energy.

Finally, the funds are there.

Because the Christmas lights were converted to LED, he also doubted that there would be "significant energy savings".

City master builder Sebastian Dietrich confirmed that it is neither there nor financially a large sum.

However, one is encouraged to save 15 to 20 percent in each area.

According to manager Bettina Schade, a total of 25,000 euros is estimated for the Christmas lights in the budget.

The majority of the costs, between 16,000 and 18,000 euros, would arise from assembly, disassembly and repairs.

The sum depends on the weather, according to Dietrich.

If it has to be reworked during storms, it will be correspondingly more expensive.

No Christmas lights in side streets

In recent years, crossings at Marienplatz as well as in Münzstrasse, Christophstrasse and Weinstrasse have been suspended, Schade explained and raised the debate as to whether they should be kept as usual this year, whether Christmas lights should be omitted completely or whether a “small solution” should be found, for example Crossings in the Münzstrasse.

From the point of view of the administration, the waiver of the hangings in the street canyon of Weinstrasse and Christophstrasse was “not so dramatic”, Dietrich continued.

Several city councilors agreed.

In addition, they considered leaving out the crossings at Marienplatz this year, as they would compete with the lighting elements of the Christmas market anyway, according to the city architect.

Whether the latter, such as the fairy lights above the Marienbrunnen fountain, will be hung up safely this year cannot be said for sure, as they are organized privately and the city has no influence on them, Dietrich admitted when asked by Tischner.

However, this is currently assumed.

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.)

Christmas lighting in the “parlor” at Marienplatz

Kornelia Funke (CSU), like her party colleague Marianne Porsche-Rohrer, spoke out in favor of “concentrating on Marienplatz”.

After all, this can be understood as the city's "parlour" according to Porsche-Rohrer.

After all, at home you only decorate there and not in the bathroom.

The exclusive lighting at Marienplatz can give rise to "a homely feeling" and does not have to be understood as a need to save money.

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Stefan Konrad (SPD) advocated that, in addition to Marienplatz, the Münzstraße should also be illuminated for Christmas as the “main axis” along which most people come to the old town, while Bettina Buresch (Green Party) criticized that she often “liked the Staade time in general glaring and loud” and she has no problem with less lighting.

The majority of the city councilors finally voted for the Christmas lights on Marienplatz and on Münzstraße.

Christophstrasse and Weinstrasse will no longer be illuminated for Christmas this year.

No panel member voted to keep street lighting as usual.

Regina Haugg (SPD) suggested considering solar-powered Christmas lights for the future.

Hans Rehbehn (CSU) wanted to know whether it was possible to switch off the Christmas lights at 10 p.m.

Since it is linked to the street lighting, it is very "expensive and complex" and not feasible, according to Dietrich.

Markus Keller (Greens) called for it to be checked anyway.

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