The green gate in Pardubice was rejected by 56 pct of people in the survey

Pardubice - Internet surveys about plastering or not plastering the Green Gate in Pardubice involved 1813 respondents. 56 percent of voters wish for plaster, while 44 percent want the city's landmark to remain as it is. Petr Kvaš (ODS), the deputy mayor, told ČTK. The monument has not had a façade for over 100 years. Experts prefer its return.

"I expected that people would be more against plastering; the Green Gate without plaster is a traditional symbol of the city," Kvaš said. He himself leans towards the return of plaster, as proposed by conservationists.

The councilors will evaluate the survey in September and agree on the next steps. The repair of the Green Gate will not begin before next year, possibly not even then, Kvaš added.

The gate dates back to 1507, it was raised by about 13 meters after a fire in 1538, and around 1542 it acquired its current roof design. At that time, the builders also plastered the tower. The Green Gate has been unplastered since 1912. The change was proposed by architect Bóža Dvořák in the spirit of historical purism. At that time, the city had a walkway built in the upper parts.

According to experts, plaster better protects the masonry. The tower is made of dark stone, which warms up on the surface in summer, while the masonry inside remains cool. Temperature differences cause vertical cracks. Simple stone conservation involves cleaning and chemical treatment. This method needs to be repeated every five years.