People in Náchod will vote today in a referendum about the hypermarket

Náchod - People in the twenty-one thousand Náchod will vote today in a referendum on the construction of a shopping center on the site of the former textile factory Tepna. The referendum has two questions and, according to its initiators, if the outcome is positive, it would bind the city to purchase the land from Tepna and to oppose the construction in the zoning process. The shops are to be built in the city center in an area close to Náchod Castle. The center is to be constructed by JTH Holding, which owns the Tepna complex.
    Opponents of the hypermarket claim that the project is not in accordance with the zoning plan. The construction would allegedly mean an unbearable traffic burden for the entire area. Activists wish for the land in the city center to be used better, preferring block development of the locality with a traditional street system instead of shops. The project has so far received a non-final zoning decision.
    The initiators of the plebiscite are, however, concerned about low participation. Their plan to hold the referendum alongside the October municipal elections did not succeed. If at least 35 percent of voters do not turn out, the plebiscite will be invalid, stated the proxy of the referendum preparation committee and Náchod councilor Michal Kudrnáč (Green Party).
    This year, the city has taken its own initiative and agreed with developer JTH Holding to purchase part of the land in the Tepna area, covering 0.55 hectares for 9.9 million crowns. The decision to finalize the purchase of the land will be made by the current new council. According to Kudrnáč, however, the purchase of about one-fifth of the land does not solve the problem, as the hypermarket in the former Tepna remains in the developer's plans.