Architekt: The problem of Kladno is neglected areas and cycling paths

Kladno - Kladno should focus on the cultivation of neglected areas, which are a problem for almost the entire area of the city. The public transport service and its related infrastructure, especially for cyclists in the city center, should also be improved. The development of cycling paths will be addressed by a new set of projects that the city will prepare this year, said architect Ondřej Rys, who is responsible for the development of the city of Kladno.
    According to him, Kladno should have a long-term concept for development, which will facilitate the coordination of individual projects and the drawing of subsidies. The city is also preparing a special manual for managing public space.
    According to Rys, the transport infrastructure should serve equally to all. "The biggest debt in this regard is in the area of cycling transport within the city, but it is necessary to focus on improving public transport and creating a more friendly and safer environment for pedestrians," said Rys, who sees the development of the city primarily in qualitative terms, meaning that Kladno should have a more attractive environment for living, working, and leisure. Kladno is also preparing a long-term plan for the old industrial zone in the area of the former Vojtěšská Foundry.
    Kladno is, according to Rys, doing best in the area of leisure time. "Here, I would like to improve the condition of suburban forests and expand the possibilities of leisure activities even outside the saturated Sletiště," he added. Sletiště is a municipal multipurpose sports facility.
    The so-called public space manual, which will be created this year and should also facilitate the coordination of the city’s activities, is expected to help improve the environment in the city. For example, Prague has had a public space manual since last year, and this document contains recommendations on how not to create barriers on the streets, how to coordinate their repairs, and how to generally make movement and stay in the city more pleasant for people.
    The Kladno Development Commission has also identified several locations where smaller projects, based on residents' suggestions, will be implemented. These projects are not financially demanding but have a significant impact on the surroundings. This could be, for example, the improvement of an abandoned area or the creation of a new space with benches for meetings. This year, 1.5 million crowns have been allocated for similar projects in Kladno, and it should be more in the coming years. "It should be a community system, into which citizens can submit their own suggestions, and based on voting, a project will be selected each year by local citizens for implementation in their locality," said Rys.
     Kladno should approve a new zoning plan this year, which will be followed by regulatory plans and territorial studies. The overall development of the city and smaller projects will then be derived from them. Rys sees the approval of the plan as realistic in the fall. Originally, the plan was to be approved in 2013, but delays were caused by an amendment to the building law and changes in the terminology of the civil code. Another reason for the postponement was the resolution of objections.