Tachov is preparing a complete reconstruction of the square for 70 to 80 million CZK

Tachov - The thirteen-thousand-strong town of Tachov is preparing a reconstruction of the square for 70 to 80 million crowns. The city has a project and a building permit. However, it must first complete the repairs of the riding hall in Světce and the community hall and cinema Mže, which were started last year. This was stated by Mayor Ladislav Macák (Patriots of Tachov) to ČTK. The project in the historical center of the heritage zone was initiated by the city 11 years ago.

Macák noted that the city hall must ensure serviceability for shops. "It is dying there now, only foreign workers live there," said the mayor. According to him, Tachov must renovate the square so it does not have to be ashamed of it for being just two streets below.

According to Horáček, the riding hall was prioritized because the city secured funds from the EU for it last spring. This is an investment of 80 million crowns that the city must pre-finance. It took out a loan of 150 million because it needs another 70 million crowns for Mže, whose repair should largely be completed by the end of the year.

"If everything goes well and both projects are completed, work on the square could start immediately after. However, due to the developments in prices (for construction works and materials), we cannot afford it right now," said Macák. He hopes that the collection of shared taxes from the state will improve. In 2024, when the construction might kick off, Tachov should have paid off the loan taken by the previous city leadership.

"Unfortunately, there are no grants left for the revitalization of the square," Horáček lamented. According to him, grants are now mainly intended for greenery and related water absorption, which cannot be utilized for historical squares.

The mayor considers the repair of two streets below the square - K. H. Borovského and Rokycanova - to be the most important. "They are the worst streets and yet they are in the city center," he stated. There will be new surfaces, sidewalks, and utilities. "The square needs it too," he added. The entire area will have stone paving. "The roads will be paved with cobblestones. Pedestrian zones will end, and sidewalks will be around the buildings," he added. The small asphalt parking lot in the middle will be removed, and a one-way detour road will pass along the edge of the entire area, where 25 paid parking spaces will be created. The square was asphalted during the previous regime so that military oaths could take place there.

The square will be divided into squares, with the center and sidewalks from surrounding streets made of large paving and jointless mosaics. There will be bays near shops for people to stop for 30 minutes. "The square is dead precisely because there is nowhere to park," said the mayor. The sidewalks will be made of natural paving. The fountain will remain in the square, a replica of the Marian column will return there, and there will be trees on the sidewalks.

The original project with new utilities under the square, approved by heritage conservators, had to be revised by the city because it was contested by the new heritage care worker.

This year, Tachov will spend a record 149 million crowns on investments, nearly two-thirds more than last year.