The petition against the hotel complex with a spa in Adršpach has been signed by over 5,500 people

Adršpach - A petition against the planned construction of the hotel complex Lázně Pramen Adršpach in Adršpach in the Náchod region has been signed by over 5,500 people since the end of September. According to the petition's authors, the complex will not only damage the natural character of the area, which is part of a protected region, but will also have a significant impact on the environment, including the potential threat to water sources, they stated on the website.

The municipality, with 480 inhabitants, is already struggling with an excessive number of tourists and the burden on transportation infrastructure due to the proximity of rock towns. The investor claims that the planned project is in accordance with the zoning plan, will respect nature, and will be beneficial for the community.

The accommodation and recreational facility of spa type, with a capacity of almost 400 people, is planned to be established in Lower Adršpach near Křížový Hill, according to the study. As part of the complex, according to architect Josef Pleskot's design, there should be, in addition to the hotel and spa, an underground parking lot with three above-ground and two underground floors.

The landowner is the company Adršpach Real a.s., and the investor is to be the firm Crescon, which also built the Aldrov Resort residential complex in the Krkonošsko Vítkovice. The estimated budget for the construction of the complex in Adršpach is around 1.5 billion crowns, said Radek Zábrodský, the financial director of Crescon, to ČTK. According to him, the start date of construction cannot be estimated. "We want to finance it partly from our own resources, partly from bank sources," said Zábrodský.

The project is in the study phase, which has prepared an assessment of the landscape character. "The project is designed in accordance with the valid zoning plan, which allows construction for accommodation and recreation purposes. The intention is now at the beginning of the discussion phase, where we have presented it to the local government and submitted a request for preliminary discussion to the CHKO Broumovsko. We will subsequently address it with all relevant authorities," Zábrodský stated.

The planned complex with two buildings will include accommodation units and a hotel with a spa and wellness center. The project also includes multifunctional halls and restaurants. According to Zábrodský, the proposed accommodation capacity is around 380 beds. According to the investor, there will be no water park with slides in the complex that would increase noise pollution.

"The project is focused on relaxation and, besides wellness offerings, will also provide traditional spa treatments. For this entire infrastructure to function economically, we need to add residences that we want to offer to the private sector. The municipality was offered the opportunity to use part of the residences for a senior citizens' home," Zábrodský stated.

"The goal of the project is to create a modern spa resort, which should contribute to extending the stay of visitors to this significant area," Zábrodský said. According to him, the project could be beneficial for the municipality not only by creating jobs and services but also by distributing visitor numbers throughout the year thanks to the year-round operation of the complex. Currently, the summer months are particularly marked by a surge of tourists.

According to the petition's initiators, an assessment of the impact of the construction on the environment in the EIA process is necessary. "The proposed project does not meet the requirements of the zoning plan for small and medium-sized accommodation, as the total capacity of the complex exceeds the number of residents of the entire Adršpach," the authors of the petition stated. Additionally, they claim that the site would be served by completely inadequate local communication that does not meet the technical standards required for transportation during construction as well as subsequent operation of the hotel. "This operation would fundamentally affect the tranquility zone of existing buildings. The construction and subsequently the presence of the hotel would have a negative impact on the daily life of the community and local residents," the petition's initiators stated. They believe it would also lead to an increase in the number of tourists.

"Our goal is to preserve the unique natural and cultural value of Adršpach and ensure sustainable development of the municipality in line with the needs of local residents and visitors," states the petition.

According to the state agency CzechTourism, in the nationwide comparison for 2024, the Adršpach Rocks ranked first in the category of natural tourist destinations. The Adršpach Rocks national nature reserve is a smaller part of the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks. Last year, the Adršpach Rocks, with over half a million visitors, were the second most visited tourist destination in the Hradec Králové Region, after the Safari Park in Dvůr Králové nad Labem, which attracted nearly 730,000 people.