The Opava magistrate took over the arcades in Dvořák's gardens from the church

Opava - The Opava City Hall took over the arcades in Dvořákových Sadech from the Diocese of Ostrava-Opava. Homeless people, who had frequently been sleeping here recently and accumulating trash, had to leave the area. Lada Dobrovolná, the city's spokesperson, told ČTK.

The arcades had been a long-term problem. They had been a shelter for the homeless. The residents of Opava complained about the mess that was piling up here, but the city found it difficult to address the situation. The arcades were owned by the diocese.

"Therefore, we asked the owner for permission to take corrective action, based on which the technical services workers could clean up the area," described Deputy Mayor Josef Stiborský (KDU-ČSL). However, the situation recurred, and before long, the homeless again littered the arcades with waste. Consequently, city representatives asked the diocese to transfer the arcades into the ownership of the city. The diocese complied with the request. Based on a donation agreement approved by the councilors on December 11, the land, along with the building, became the property of the city.

"Currently, the arcades are cleaned. The order here and in the surrounding area will continue to be maintained by the technical services, and city police officers will, of course, supervise the area. In the near future, the city intends to repair the plaster in the arcades and paint the roof so that the arcade regains its original appearance and becomes a charm of the park again," added Dobrovolná.