“It is not a planned, it is an intended new route,” said the journalist at the beginning Johannes Pietsch clear, who has been pursuing the topic in the Schaumburg district for several years. So far, there are no concrete plans, but there are clear indications, for example in the 3rd expert draft for the Deutschlandtakt: The target travel time between Bielefeld and Hanover of a good half an hour can only be achieved on a route that is as straight as possible, which then also includes the Vlotho area would concern. In addition, the Act Preparing the Measures Act included the new line. The high priority that the project has for the federal government can be seen from this.
“A billion grave”
“We need to strengthen rail traffic and the rail networks, but not the billion dollar grave of such a new line. It cuts through social structures and the environment, ”said the Vlotho member of the Bundestag Stefan Schwartze (SPD). When the federal traffic route plan was presented, a tunnel under the Jakobsberg was still current. He believes that merely wanting to refer to the expert’s draft for the upcoming planning award is not in conformity with the law. In addition, there are considerable doubts as to whether the Act Preparing for Measures Act is at all constitutional: “I demand extensive participation by Parliament.” Well-interlinked rail traffic and the strengthening of local traffic are desirable, but not such large-scale projects. “I will support the work of a citizens’ initiative at every point and, if desired, I will provide advice,” announced Schwartze.
“It’s crazy what is supposed to happen here,” said Vlotho’s mayor Rocco Wilken . He did not find out any rational reasons for such a new building project with this enormous consumption of resources. Here, a “building project that has fallen out of time” is to be pushed forward: “I will join the citizens’ initiative and support it.”
Cross-party citizens’ initiative
Lawyer Jochen Zülka presented the draft statute for the citizens’ initiative to be organized as an association. As a possible name he named “Vlothoer Initiative STOPP an extension of the railway in Vlotho” (VISTAB). The inaugural meeting is to take place on Wednesday, November 4th, from 6 p.m. in the parish hall of Wehrendorf (space for 30 people; registrations are now possible via the Green List Vlotho). Members are accepted after the foundation. Sarah Brodowski, who has now taken care of the live broadcast via Zoom and Facebook, is creating a website and a Facebook presence.
The citizens’ initiative should be organized across parties, emphasized the GLV parliamentary group leader and mayor August-Wilhelm King who moderated the first two information events. That is why he himself will not work on the board of the citizens’ initiative, but on the advisory board, he told WESTFALEN-BLATT.
Publicity campaigns
Thomas Rippke , Chairman of the “Citizens’ Initiative against the Expansion of the Railway in Schaumburg – Minden – Porta Westfalica” (BIGTAB) asked those present: “Please get involved. The work cannot be left to the board of directors alone. ”A citizens’ initiative could achieve a lot. You have to get municipalities and districts on your side and make yourself heard in Berlin through publicity campaigns.
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