Olomouc - Several hundred people signed a objection from the environmental organization Hnutí Duha to the amended proposal of the new zoning plan for Olomouc, which concerns the preservation of greenery on the edge of the Neředín district. Environmentalists claim that part of the land in the extensive strip of greenery has already been purchased by developers, who will be able to build on it once the zoning plan is approved.
    The coordinator of Hnutí Duha, Josefa Volfová, told ČTK that more than 450 residents of Olomouc signed the objection demanding the preservation of greenery in the so-called Neředín Horizon. "Despite the limiting time and lack of public promotion, we managed to gather more than double the number of signatures needed to submit the objection within just a few days. This proves that the people of Olomouc really care about the Neředín Horizon and want to preserve this unique strip of greenery for future generations," she stated.
    According to Volfová, the city council must address the objection to the zoning plan due to the signatures of the residents. "If anyone submitted an objection or comment within the deadline, it will be dealt with in the standard way, meaning it will be discussed, evaluated, and possibly incorporated into the draft zoning plan," said city spokesperson Michal Folta today to ČTK.
    Volfová pointed out that developers have already purchased the plots before the planned change of the zoning plan. The lands are currently classified as other land, and their value will sharply rise if they are changed to building plots, according to Hnutí Duha. Developers could thus earn tens of millions of crowns through speculation on the land and will be able to develop the green area. Folta noted that the city council has no influence over such transactions involving land.
    "The extensive strip of greenery located west of the cemetery on Nová Ulice is the largest green space in the city. It serves as a place for relaxation and sporting activities for the residents of Neředín as well as for those from further districts. Citizens frequently use it for walks, sports training, recreational running, or for cross-country skiing in winter," Volfová emphasized.
    According to Volfová, the area also has its ecological and landscape value. "The Neředín Horizon is home to both common and rarer species of animals. The endangered common hamster lives here, along with several species of bats and the common lizard. However, a detailed biological survey has not yet been conducted," she added.
    The new zoning plan for Olomouc is expected to come into effect this year after long discussions and handling hundreds of objections and comments, once it is approved by the city council. Officials began creating the current zoning plan for Olomouc in 1994. It came into force four years later. The legislation requires the city to compile a new zoning plan. However, the city council needs it regardless. According to the city management, the current plan reflects the reality of the mid-1990s, not the current state.