From the center of Loket, automobile traffic should almost completely disappear

Loket (Sokolovsko) - Almost all automobile traffic should disappear from the center of Loket in Sokolovsk region in the coming years. The current pedestrian zone, which covers only a small part of the center, is to be expanded to nearly the entire historic core. However, the condition is the construction of parking lots outside the city center, Loket Mayor Jaroslav Hlavsa told CTK today.
The expansion of the pedestrian zone is considered in a marketing study commissioned by the city. "The entire historic core of the city will be transformed into a pedestrian zone. The area around the castle ramp and where the pedestrian zone currently exists will have its regime tightened, with the complete removal of parking, and access for transport services and deliveries will only be possible during limited time periods," the study states.
According to the Mayor of Loket, while the study is a long-term outlook and proposals could be implemented over a period of ten to 15 years, investments should be made as soon as possible due to the possibility of obtaining funds from the European Union in the coming years. "Especially parking. Our aim is to build a parking lot on the site of the former dump behind the bridge," Hlavsa stated.
However, the problem is that constructing on the dump or completely excavating it represents costs in the order of at least tens of millions of crowns. Another, although similarly costly alternative, is to build a parking lot in the rock.
In addition to the main parking lot, the study suggests about 13 other locations in Loket that could expand parking options. However, these are only small areas.
According to Hlavsa, restricting traffic in the center to a minimum should not threaten local entrepreneurs. "When the pedestrian zone was introduced years ago, there were also objections, but in the end, the concerns were unfounded. I think it will be the same this time," Hlavsa believes.
According to the study, Loket should also offer two pedestrian walking circuits in the future or expand its offerings for cycling tourism.