Plzeň - There is a lack of consensus on the future of the 4x4 Cultural Factory in the Světovar complex among the parties and groups running for the Plzeň city council. Some would halt the key project of the European Capital of Culture 2015, while others advocate for its completion, even without European funding. This was stated in a discussion that took place at the end of last week in Plzeň. Ten out of 17 representatives participated. The fate of the project, which is estimated to cost around a quarter of a billion crowns and is complicated by dangerous tar in the insulation, will be decided on November 14. According to Mayor Martin Baxa (ODS), a strong supporter of the project, continuing would make sense given the location. "It has great development potential," he stated. He admitted that the city is currently balancing on the edge of whether the project can be managed. "If we receive a grant of 100 million crowns, we will implement it; if regional politicians do not provide it, then the decision will be up to the new council," he said. Personally, he is in favor of completion. The council is set to decide on the grant on November 14. "We will always advocate for the project to be completed. To write it off and leave it idle I consider a bad path," stated Michal Vozobule from TOP 09. According to him, the supporting infrastructure is important; there is supposed to be a new area designated for housing and a cluster for university students. "But this is on the condition that the city completes the cultural factory and archive there," he said. The group Together for Plzeň also wants to see the project through to completion. According to Petr Šimon, this is necessary as it is a project with international significance. "Plzeň should definitely consider completing it," said Lilka Rybáková Ročáková from KDU-ČSL, who supports the project. According to her, they have had good experiences with similar cultural factories in Ostrava. The Communists have so far taken an ambivalent stance on the issue; according to Jana Bystřická, they voted in favor in the past. Now, according to her, it will depend on the city's budget possibilities. In contrast, the Freeholders are against completing the project. Their leader, Jan Zavadil, said that megalomaniac constructions should not be done with city money. "Let's sell it to a private investor. The city's debt is over 2.2 billion crowns, and we are discussing how to increase it further," he stated. Ivan Čipera from the group Plzeň for Sports also expressed a skeptical attitude toward the project. "We are concerned that this will end in a major failure; at the moment, I do not know how to approach it. It is a question of whether it can be brought to a meaningful state," he stated. He is convinced that the city will regret the project. According to Alice Huspeková from Public Interests of Plzeň, the money spent on culture in Plzeň does not correspond to the results. In the case of Světovar, she believes consequences must be drawn from the fact that the project has been "botched." Změna for Plzeň also wants to consider whether to proceed with the Světovar project. "The question is who will pay for its operation," stated Martin Marek on their behalf. He also pointed out the repeatedly increased cost of the new theater and the fact that performances have not been sold out just a few weeks after opening. Deputy Mayor Eva Herinková (ČSSD) stated that she would not support the construction of the cultural factory without a grant. The discussion on the future direction of culture in Plzeň after 2015 was attended by ten of the 17 candidate groups. Notably absent were Citizens Patriots for the completion of Světovar; the Right Choice for Plzeň would not continue without funding.
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