The demolition of the textile factory Tepna Náchod could be completed by the end of March

Náchod - The demolition of the ruins of the former Tepna textile factory in Náchod is now in full swing. A shopping and commercial center is to be built on the site of the factory, which is owned by the Teplice group JTH, spokesperson for the Náchod city hall Nina Adlof told ČTK. The demolition could be completed by the end of March, depending on the weather, said Jiří Grüner, a member of the board of JTH Holding.
     Tepna ceased production shortly after declaring bankruptcy in spring 2006, and around 200 people lost their jobs. The area was then auctioned off and acquired by JTH businessman Jaroslav Třešňák. The abandoned buildings in the area became targets for metal thieves and shelters for the homeless, and firefighters and security personnel repeatedly intervened in the area, which posed a danger to the surroundings. Therefore, the city hall sought to expedite the demolition, which the company began at the end of November.
    "With the start of the demolition, the problems with the homeless ceased. The municipal police still monitors the location to a greater extent," said the city hall spokesperson. If the property owner had not started the demolition, the city hall would have considered the option of demolishing it themselves and then reclaiming the costs from the property owners.
    The foundation of the shopping center, which could start construction later this year, will be an Interspar hypermarket. Additional shops will follow. The total sales area of the zone is expected to be around 8,000 square meters, and the parking lot will have about 230 spaces.
    The plan to build stores near the city center has sparked resistance from some residents of Náchod. Critics of the project pointed to the threat of increased traffic and pollution. They argued that streets with blocks of houses should instead be built on the former factory site. The city hall defends itself primarily by stating that it was not the owner of the property in the past, and therefore did not have the opportunity to influence the future use of the factory area.