People in Milevsko expressed their opposition to the supermarket in a referendum

Milevsko (Písek) - The residents of Milevsko in the Písek region decided in a referendum that a supermarket will not be built instead of the bus station in the city center. More than two-thirds of voters were against it. Voter turnout reached 49.7 percent. This surpassed the legal limit of 35 percent, therefore the results of the plebiscite are binding for the city, said Michal Polanecký, the vice-mayor of Milevsko, to ČTK.
    Local residents and people from surrounding municipalities have been fighting against the construction of the supermarket for several years, gathering nearly 3,000 signatures on a petition. Therefore, the city council decided in September that the people could decide on the establishment of a shopping center in a referendum held together with the regional elections. The results of the voting are binding for the city for two years. "We cannot initiate the sale, which has been requested by Lidl. It just happens to coincide with the end of our electoral term, so it will smoothly transition to a new generation of councilors," Polanecký explained.
    A total of 3,748 voters cast their ballots, of which 1,069 were in favor of selling the land. A total of 2,495 votes were against, which is 33.1 percent of all people with voting rights in the city. For the validity of the referendum, it is necessary that at least 25 percent of all eligible voters express support for one of the options.
    Previously, the city stipulated that any potential investor – Lidl – must not create a typical supermarket building on the site in the center of Milevsko. According to the prepared study, several multifunctional buildings with shops could be built instead of the bus station. The total costs would amount to 145 million crowns. However, the people do not agree with this solution either. According to some opponents, it is not possible to guarantee through a contract how the investor will handle the land.