The City Hall in Třešť is preparing a debate on the change of the boundaries of the heritage zone

Jihlava - The town hall in Třešť is preparing to start a debate about changing the boundaries of the urban heritage zone. Currently, it also includes part of the housing estate with panel houses. However, only the Ministry of Culture, which declared the zone in 1995, can decide on this. Třešť's mayor Vladislav Hynk (KDU-ČSL) told reporters today. The discussion about the heritage zone was prompted by a homeowner in the center who encountered conflict with heritage conservationists during renovations. The town hall was then asked to abolish the zone.
    The mayor stated that the complainant is not so much concerned with abolishing the zone, but with clarifying the rules. A meeting with representatives of the town hall and heritage conservationists is planned for early next year to contribute to this. "We would like to unify the rules for how people should proceed with repairs," said Hynk. According to him, the outcome may also be a request to change the boundaries of the zone, which encompasses over a quarter of the town's area. However, the mayor would not abolish the zone. "It is a mark of history that has passed through this town," he justified.
    Heritage conservationists reportedly object to the fact that the complainant used concrete roofing instead of ceramic tiles during the roof repairs, for which he faces a fine. According to the mayor, this is not the only case in the town where people have made mistakes during repairs according to the heritage conservationists. The town also encountered limitations in planning the restoration of greenery in the housing estate, he added.
    The town hall in Ledeč nad Sázavou is already working towards reducing the urban heritage zone to a smaller area. This step has also received support from the residents. In a January survey, 95 percent of the 1951 valid votes were in favor of limiting the zone. The zone was established in 2003. According to the town hall, it is too broad and also includes buildings from the 1980s.
    The boundaries of some heritage zones could indeed change, as heritage conservationists are starting to work on a review of protected heritage areas across the country. Tomáš Vícha from the Telč branch of the National Heritage Institute stated that experts are already dealing with Ledeč nad Sázavou. According to him, it could be concluded that the zones were defined too liberally, for example in Nové Město na Moravě, where it intersects with a panel housing estate, or in Žďár's Zelená hora, where the protective zone includes a factory.
    The problems that have emerged in the Třešť heritage zone are not considered exceptional by Vícha; similar issues exist elsewhere; for instance, people do not understand why they cannot install plastic windows. "It is probably natural that not everyone understands the significance of this institution and the possibilities it offers for historic towns," he said. Heritage zones protect city centers from inappropriate interventions and construction modifications. Some town halls consider them a prestigious matter, Vícha added. Funding for the restoration of monuments in zones can be obtained from the regeneration program.