The Justice Palace in Pardubice could be in the barracks complex

Pardubice - The Justice Palace in Pardubice, the construction of which has already been postponed several times, could one day stand in the area of the Masaryk Barracks. The army will vacate the buildings this year, and the state administration considers the location to be optimal. This was stated today by the deputy governor Roman Línek (KDU-ČSL) after a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Justice.
    "This year, an investment study will already be elaborated. The perception of the city center will broaden due to the placement of the courthouse. The chosen location is very good for parking and logistics. The facilities that the current branch of the regional court has are insufficient," Línek said.
    The Pardubice Region has been striving for regional justice since its inception. Since 2003, a branch of the Hradec Králové Regional Court has been located in Pardubice in a rented building. The location does not have an adequate courtroom for serious criminal cases or security measures.
    The future site for the judicial complex has changed several times. The barracks were considered once before, but the army had not yet planned to leave the premises. Afterward, there was talk about the location Na Třísle next to the district court and the area of the former heating plant in Karlovina. These spaces ultimately proved to be too small. The last and definitive option seemed to be the vacant lot Na Spravedlnosti opposite the seat of the regional police.
    "It was considered that the complex would be built by a private investor who would invest money into the project. However, the last two years, marked by an economic crisis, are not suitable for launching such projects," said Línek.
    Just as the future address of the complex changed, so did the construction timelines. Former Minister of Justice Jiří Pospíšil saw it as realistic that the regions would have their courts by 2012. However, the state does not have the funds for six buildings, and the complex in Pardubice is expected to cost 600 million crowns according to initial estimates.
    "An investment of several hundred million crowns will certainly be realized in stages. Today's public budgets do not allow for such an investment to be made all at once," Línek said.
    The army could vacate the approximately ten-hectare barracks area in the second half of this year, most likely in November. The city of Pardubice is seeking the barracks. The city hall has historical documents proving ownership of the land even before nationalization in 1949. If the city were to acquire the area, it plans to relinquish the necessary land to the Ministry of Justice for a symbolic price.