Ahlen citizens' initiative disappointed: city center plans do not meet our demands!

Ahlen citizens' initiative disappointed: city center plans do not meet our demands!

The “Round Table” on inner city development recently met again, but the mood among citizens remains anything but euphoric. The Ahlen citizens' initiative is disappointed with the recently published decisions on the future of the Mariengarten. According to Marcel Luik, the initiative's spokesman, the content of the press release differs greatly from the wishes and needs of the general public. The citizens' initiative is calling for greater consideration of residents' suggestions and has urgently pointed out to those responsible that the existing variant was not sufficiently taken into account in the considerations, as wn.de reports.

Active work has been underway to revitalize the city center since the beginning of the year. The first “Downtown Round Table” brought together numerous actors, including representatives of the Ahlen City Center Initiative, the owners’ association and committed citizens. A concept should now be developed together that also meets the requirements of gastronomy as well as education and culture. Andreas Koc, member of the Integration Council, was particularly mentioned in the discussion as a bridge of thought between different perspectives.

A long-term process

At the meeting, the participants laid the foundations for sustainable urban development. Further discussions should take place every three months in different locations in order to actively discuss the needs of the residents. In addition to redesigning the east wall and creating a place of peace at St. Bartholomew's Church, the introduction of hanging baskets is also being considered as a first measure. These ideas met with general approval, and Thomas Köpp, city planning officer, commented positively on the citizens' commitment.

In order to make the city center even more livable, some homework needs to be done. Among other things, the testing of a parking guidance system will be processed for the next meeting. The challenges posed by e-scooters in the pedestrian zone, which are causing some concern, should also be discussed with the regulatory authority. This reflects a far-reaching goal of urban development: the inclusion of all voices in order to promote a peaceful, safe and attractive city life, as can also be found on the platform buergergesellschaft.de.

Citizen participation is key

Citizen participation plays an essential role here. This goes beyond simple consultations and is intended to promote active participation in planning processes. It is refreshing that the city of Ahlen has recognized how important the views and ideas of its residents are. The path to get there is certainly not always easy, but the willingness to openly discuss things gives hope for positive changes. The “participation paradox”, in which citizens are often only included in planning late, should not become the norm.

The next “Downtown Round Table” is planned for the beginning of October, and residents can look forward to seeing how the decided measures develop. Those responsible are responsible for actively listening to the voices of citizens and incorporating them into decisions.