The petition against the new hypermarket in Ústí has little interest

Ústí nad Labem - Residents of Ústí nad Labem have shown little interest in the Green Party's petition against the construction of a new hypermarket in the center of the regional city. So far, about 500 people have signed the petition. The low number of signatures surprised the organizers, said Dušan Oslej, chairman of the Ústí city organization of the Green Party, to ČTK today. At the end of January, when the Greens informed about their protest action, they expected 3,500 signatures. Ústí nad Labem has 97,000 inhabitants.
    In the area where a shopping center is supposed to be built by the end of 2008, there are approximately twenty houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After years of devastation, some buildings have begun to come back to life. The Greens point out that many houses have been renovated, and some have opened small shops and other establishments.
    They also note that several new buildings, including shopping centers, are already rising in the city center. For example, the Zdar Palace in Mírové Square, or the Forum by the church with the leaning tower. The Greens are concerned that some new buildings might remain empty.
    City spokesman Milan Knotek previously told ČTK that the zoning decision was issued on December 4 last year. It is fully in accordance with the city’s master plan and is valid, said the spokesman.
    The campaign against the hypermarket was supposed to last until the end of February. The Greens have decided to continue collecting signatures. They have not yet set a deadline for it. Petition sheets and more information can be found on our website: usti-nl.zeleni.cz, noted Oslej. According to him, the Greens will not change their campaign approach for now. "Perhaps we will set up a stand with petition sheets more often in Mírové Square," Oslej stated.
    He was surprised by the opinions of people who believe that the new hypermarket will help the center. According to the Greens, it will only bring increased traffic, noise and emissions, and will eliminate small traders in the area.
    The Greens in Ústí nad Labem have 55 members. In last year's local elections, they were unsuccessful: they gained only one district councilor. However, there were times when they had representation in district councils and a deputy mayor.