The Meziříčský Town Hall is seeking to demolish the cinema; citizens are against it

Zlín - The Valašské Meziříčí Town Hall will again discuss the planned demolition of the dilapidated summer cinema. The rundown cinema, located in the park adjacent to the Empire-style Kinský Castle, has been out of operation for almost ten years. According to the Town Hall, its restoration would be very costly, and the result is uncertain given the declining interest in film screenings. Therefore, the councilors decided in April to proceed with its demolition. However, some citizens disagree with this decision and have organized a petition. Mayor Jiří Kubeša (ODS) has therefore decided that the fate of the cinema will be the topic of a public discussion.
    According to the mayor, the council should return to this matter at the September meeting. "I would like us to conclude the election term with clear positions,” he added. Deputy Mayor Bohdan Mikušek (KDU-ČSL) has a different opinion on the possibility of a public debate. The councilors' agreement to demolish came, according to him, only after all avenues of discussion with expert institutions in the field of nature conservation and heritage care had been exhausted. Their positions showed that the development of the summer cinema in the castle park is not feasible.
    People are demanding in the petition that the mentioned decision be suspended and that the final decision be left to the newly elected councilors who will emerge from the autumn elections. The organizers are also calling for a public discussion, possibly to hold a local referendum. The citizens who signed the petition believe that the city needs the area for organizing various cultural events. "Another reason for opposing this action is the fact that the councilors decided on the demolition without clearly stating what will follow and how the 'cleared' area will be used,” stated petition organizer Marek Irgl in a statement sent to ČTK.
    According to Deputy Mayor Mikušek, it is necessary to urgently dismantle health and life-threatening elements. He therefore considers the demolition of the summer cinema the only possible solution. The city has allocated one million crowns for the demolition of the amphitheater.
    Before the April vote, the councilors considered three options, one of which included the preservation of the summer cinema, while the others involved its removal. This idea gained majority support. Additionally, groups of young people meet in the abandoned summer cinema and create a mess in the area. "It is a place we frequently visit,” supported the cancellation of the cinema in April by the head of the local emergency service center and councilor Libuše Dvořáková (KDU-ČSL).