The Vsetín town hall has prepared six variants for the reconstruction of the square

Vsetín - The Vsetín City Hall has prepared six variants for the redevelopment of Svobody Square. Its design is criticized by residents, and the city leadership is not satisfied with it either. Public debates were held throughout the day on Thursday at several locations in the city, where architect Igor Kovačevič presented options along with cost estimates, although only a few dozen people attended, informed the city hall spokesperson Jana Čadová today.
    The space was reconstructed last year, but residents protested primarily against the new natural gravel surface of the square. According to city management, gravel was used because it was significantly cheaper compared to other construction materials or grass surfaces. The design was approved back in 2008, and the current city leadership reportedly had no opportunity to intervene in the project.
    The unsatisfactory state of the square has sparked several debates recently, so the city expected a larger attendance at Thursday's event. "We are happy to explain, happy to communicate, happy to take advice, but if we do not have a partner, it is pointless. We believed that the interest would be greater," said Mayor Iveta Táborská (ODS).
    The reconstruction proposals are published on the city’s website, and people can express their opinions about them until July 8, or propose other solutions. The costs for individual variants range from 600,000 to nearly two million crowns.
    According to the discussants, none of the variants completely met the requirements, but by combining and refining them, a final version could be found. The city will create two variants based on people's comments, which will then be voted on. A decision is expected to be made this fall, with repairs anticipated to begin in the spring.
    People wish to have a pedestrian thoroughfare, a space for short stops, social gatherings, and a memorial place with a monument in the square, according to the initiative "Liberate the Square," which has already organized events there and highlighted its poor condition, noted initiative member Tomáš Koňařík.