Pardubané decided in a referendum that they want the Green Gate without plaster

Pardubice - People in Pardubice want the historically protected Green Gate to remain unplastered. 72.5 percent of voting voters expressed their support for the unplastered option in the referendum. The plebiscite is binding for the city. CTK was informed of this by the city hall spokesperson Radim Jelínek. The historically protected tower has been without plaster for over 100 years. The city hall is addressing the restoration of the monument, as the masonry is damaged by temperature differences.

"I am glad that such a high number of people cares about how one of the city's landmarks will look in the coming decades and possibly centuries. Our task now is to transform the will of the citizens into a decision by the council and to start preparing the reconstruction of the Green Gate in a way that preserves its current appearance," said councilor and initiator of the referendum Jan Hrabal (ANO).

The referendum took place on Friday and today simultaneously with the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. 68,049 eligible voters in Pardubice could express their opinion, and 32,964 people did so on Friday and Saturday, representing 48.4 percent. 22,984 voters chose the option without plastering, which is 72.5 percent of those voting and 33.7 percent of all eligible voters in Pardubice. "This indicates that the referendum is valid," Jelínek stated.

The 59-meter tall landmark of Pardubice is the entry point to the historical center. It dates back to the early 16th century and has been without plaster since 1912. The city has assessments that prefer various options for the gate's repairs. Experts from the Faculty of Restoration at the University of Pardubice are concerned that the plaster might not adhere to the stone masonry and recommend long-term monitoring of the temperature on the surface and within the internal layers of the tower. From this, the further steps for repairs would emerge. Authorized civil engineer Petr Rohlíček from the company specializing in monument reconstruction leans towards restoring the external plaster. According to him, the masonry will be better protected against ongoing erosion.