Ecologists and citizens appealed against Kaufland in Domažlice

Domažlice - The Plzeň ecological movement Children of the Earth and the local civic association Tusta have today appealed to the regional office against the planned construction of the Kaufland shopping center in the center of Domažlice. After three years of resistance, the investor of the controversial project has obtained a building permit. Environmental activists reject the construction primarily due to noise and its close proximity to the heritage conservation area. Martin Hyťha from Children of the Earth told CTK.
    "The shopping center will bring more cars to Komenského Street, where hygiene limits for noise exposure are already being exceeded," he added. According to the head of the building department, Ivana Sladká, no reasons were found that would prevent the approval of the construction. The sanitary station also issued its consent. "It only took the noise from the supermarket's air-conditioning into account, but did not address the increase in noise from the increased number of cars on the street," Hyťha stated. Reportedly, noise levels already reach up to 73 decibels, while the hygiene limit is 70 dB.
    "The project is intended for construction on a greenfield site and not in the historical center on the border of the city heritage conservation area," said Daniel Balcar from Tusta. The construction near two schools and a playground would cause a significant increase in traffic. The promised job opportunities are not an argument; for every two positions in the supermarket, three have disappeared in small shops, Balcar added.
    Children of the Earth also point out excessive noise from cars concerning the intention to build a Hornbach shopping center in Plzeň near Prazdroj. Just like Kaufland in Domažlice, its construction is being prepared by Plzeň's InterCora.
    Tusta has been trying to stop the construction of Kaufland's monoblock measuring 80 by 40 meters in the back part of the former brewery for three years. The investor has only dug a hole on site. A hotel and a microbrewery are to be built in the front part of the brewery, but their construction has not yet started.
    In the eleven-thousand-strong Domažlice near the German border, there are currently three supermarkets - Julius Meinl, Penny, and fresh Plus Discount; Lidl is also applying for a space for its store. Interest in Domažlice is significant. The catchment area is large, it is the first larger town from the border, and plans to build hundreds of apartments.