New ideas for more green in the city
Created: 01/03/2023, 10:00 am
By: Magnus Reitinger
This is what green lampposts look like in the small town of Bad Saulgau in Württemberg.
© City of Bad Saulgau
Weilheim's old town should be greener and the quality of stay should be improved - there is broad agreement on this in the town hall.
But it will take a while before there are visible results.
Weilheim – There is no lack of suggestions for a greener inner city.
Two months ago, the city council's building committee was presented with an architecture student's study of where and how more trees and seating could be accommodated in the center - for example on Kirchplatz, Schmiedstraße or in the square area of Cavaliergasse (we reported).
In addition, there was now an application from the Weilheim Beautification Association: He suggested greening lampposts in the old town, for example with Virginia creeper or ivy tendrils.
That would be "also a contribution to increasing the biodiversity in the city area", wrote the first chairwoman Bettina Pyko, and the city would thus do justice to the claim to membership in the "Communities for Biological Diversity" alliance.
200 euros per lantern including two years of maintenance
Pykos suggested that a pilot project should be started at five to ten representative locations, such as on Münchener Strasse or Oberen Graben.
The investment costs are estimated at a maximum of 200 euros per lantern including two years of maintenance;
the beautification association would take over 50 percent of this.
The beautification association brought the idea of an excursion to Bad Saulgau in the summer of 2022.
The small town in Württemberg, which has slightly fewer inhabitants than Weilheim, was named the “Capital of Biodiversity” in 2011.
Already more than 30 years ago, lamp posts were started to be overgrown.
Knotweed species have proven to be less suitable for this, while Virginia creeper, honeysuckle and Jelängerjelieber have proven to be very good.
"These climbing plants are native, insect-friendly and less expansive than the previously used knotweed species," says the Saulgau town hall.
The maintenance effort is "relatively low": such a plant has to be cut back once or twice a year,
Pay attention to accessibility
In Weilheim's building committee, the application was met with some skepticism at the most recent meeting, but the majority was well received.
However, nothing has been specifically decided yet – neither with regard to the greening of the lanterns nor with regard to “trees and seating”.
However, some factions have already commented on the proposed concept for a possible “furnishing” of the old town.
Most of them "fundamentally agree" with additional green and seating elements.
The ÖDP calls for a further reduction in traffic areas and car parking spaces.
The Free Voters warn to also pay attention to accessibility.
In particular, the CSU welcomes the better definition of the church square with greenery and benches.
While many are calling for the same “furniture” to be used throughout the city center, according to the SPD, this “does not necessarily have to be the same everywhere”.
"We don't really have the money for it"
Klaus Gast (CSU) addressed a basic problem in the building committee: "We know that we don't actually have the money for it." With funds from the "Invigorate city center" funding program that have not yet been exhausted, one could "start at one point," says Gast, but should "no false expectations are raised".
Alfred Honisch (Greens) asked whether the matter could and should not be “put into the hands of the citizens”.
However, Mayor Markus Loth (BfW) refused: “It must be accompanied by a specialist office.
With all due respect for citizen participation – this is not possible with lay knowledge alone.”
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BfW spokeswoman Brigitte Holeczek thanked the city administration for "the constant effort to improve the quality of life in the city center".
Now, of course, "a concrete proposal" must be developed.
According to city architect Katrin Fischer, the government of Upper Bavaria recommended that the whole thing should not be subsidized via the project fund, but via the regular urban development subsidy.
"A more detailed study" should be prepared for this in 2023, which will then be discussed again in the building committee.
In addition, Fischer announced that from next year there will again be funding opportunities for courtyard and facade greening by private individuals.
