The British want to invest four billion in Velká Hleďsebe

Velká Hleďsebe (Chebsko) - British company Waystone, specializing in revitalizing areas affected by mining or industrial production, aims to create two thousand new jobs, an industrial and recreational zone, and modern housing in the former military barracks area in Klimentov. The total investment is expected to reach four billion crowns, reports today’s regional edition of Mladá fronta Dnes (MfD).
    The preliminary proposal for the use of the approximately eighty-hectare area was presented by the British in October of last year. “We are currently preparing very detailed economic and demographic studies,” said Andrew Dennison, who represents Waystone. “The studies should be completed in about a month, after which we will present the results to the representatives of the municipality of Velká Hleďsebe.”
    “Work due to the agreement with the Ministry of Defense cannot begin earlier than next year anyway,” said the mayor of Velká Hleďsebe, Jiří Bytel. In return for the free transfer, the municipality had to commit that the complex would not be used commercially for at least two years. For example, Velká Hleďsebe cannot sell the military beds or cabinets, even though they are its property. “We will keep the area monitored; the municipality is currently covering the costs,” clarified Bytel.
    According to Bytel, the use of the buildings is also hindered by the fact that they are not connected to utility networks. “Electricity is indeed connected in the buildings, but there is no connection to the sewage system or the water supply. For now, they can only be used as storage,” the mayor specified.
    The former barracks area is expected to change gradually. “We anticipate that it will take at least ten, rather fifteen years,” stated Waystone’s CEO Stuart McLoughlin. All facilities in the area should remain standing at least until August of next year when the contract with the army expires. The municipality then intends to offer the facilities to entrepreneurs for limited-term leases.
    A necessary prerequisite for the four-billion investment is transportation connectivity, which should be ensured by the long-planned bypass. “The documentation for the building permit is already complete. According to the latest information, the relocation could start construction next year,” said Jiří Bytel. “After ten years of preparations, I consider this our greatest success,” noted the mayor.