Broumov rejected the conversion of the brewery into a sports center

Broumov (Náchod District) - The city council of the eight-thousand-strong Broumov in the Náchod District today rejected a planned project for the conversion of the former brewery into a sports center costing a quarter of a billion crowns. ČTK was informed of this by Mayor Milan Kotrnec (ČSSD). The project, which was approved by the previous council, had also received a grant of 132 million crowns from European funds. Today, 16 out of 23 councilors expressed their opposition to the project.
    The costly sports center is reportedly a significant risk for the city and it cannot finance it given the current economic situation. "Just the financial contribution of the city at its inception would mean an expenditure equal to the annual budget of the city, not including operational costs," the mayor stated.
    In a vote last January, 14 councilors supported the project, eight were against, and one abstained. Some councilors had already warned then that the city would become significantly indebted due to the project and that in the following years it would also need to cover the operating costs of the entire sports facility. The newly elected city leadership from last year's elections decided to reassess the project.
    In addition to the European grant, the city was supposed to cover the rest of the costs, primarily through a loan. In the case of obtaining a bank loan, according to the mayor, the city would have to arrange for a payment deferment until 2016, which would significantly burden the city's debt service. He stated that the city would not have money for other investments. The risks were supposedly also carried by the operation of the sports center itself, which would incur an annual loss of five to eight million crowns.
    The project includes a 25-meter long swimming pool with additional water attractions, a multipurpose hall, spaces for a restaurant, bowling, and 90 covered parking spaces underground. Only the front wall of the currently unused municipal brewery was to remain, with other parts to be built by the constructors. The project was to be completed by the end of 2013 and, according to the original plans, was supposed to help the city with its further tourism development.