Owner: The reason for the closure of the Džbán swimming pool is exclusively the emergency condition of the premises

Prague – The reason for the closure of the Džbán swimming pool in Prague 6 for this season is, according to co-owner of the Molepo company, Jan Sýkora, solely the emergency condition of the facility. Sýkora stated this today at a meeting of the control committee of the City Council. He denied that Molepo, the owner of the swimming pool, aimed to force a change in the zoning plan in the area by closing the facility to visitors. A change in the zoning plan is necessary for the construction of residential buildings on Evropská Street, which the investor has planned.

According to the managing director of Molepo, Jiří Němec, the water and electricity systems, among other things, are in poor technical condition, as well as the buildings within the area. To ensure the safety of visitors and to make the swimming pool comply with legal standards, costly investments are necessary, according to him. Earlier, Němec announced on the swimming pool's website that the facility requires reconstruction and investments of around 100 million crowns. According to Sýkora, reconstruction of the area is currently not financially feasible for the company without the planned construction. However, a change in the zoning plan is necessary for it.

On Monday, the Prague 6 councilors spoke out against the construction around the Džbán area and against the change in the zoning plan in the locality. They recommended that the city attempt to acquire the land in the immediate vicinity of the reservoir for its own ownership. Sýkora did not rule out the sale of land, where the leisure facility is located, to the city today, but said it is not a priority for the company. The situation regarding Džbán will be addressed by the City Council and the City District Council of Prague 6 at their meetings in February.

The initiators of the petition against the development of land around the Džbán reservoir stated that "the owners of the swimming pool do not want to open it unless the city allows them to build on the natural park." The petition has been signed by over 9,000 people to date. Some members of the Prague City Hall previously labeled the company's actions as blackmail. Similarly, opposition councilors from Prague 6 from the Green Party expressed their views. Opposition councilors from Prague 6 from the Pirates stated in January that "the Molepo company is attempting to forcibly enforce a change in the zoning plan to allow the construction of residential buildings on valuable land."

The Molepo company acquired the entire area in 2012 for around 53 million crowns and was the sole participant in the auction of the assets of the state enterprise Prague Sewage and Waterways. The territory around the reservoir is considered an entrance gate to the Šárecké Valley. According to the current zoning plan, the area is designated exclusively for rest and recreation.