The political parties, the Municipality and the economic, associative, cultural and sporting circles of Montreux (VD) unite their voices: they call to vote in favor of the renovation of the Congress Center (2m2c), put to the vote on September 27th.
Two committees will combine their efforts to convince of the relevance of this new project, notes a press release published on Tuesday. One brings together all the political groups in an interparty committee. The latter considers that the project is less expensive and better integrated than the previous one.
Doing nothing would condemn the Congress Center to minimalist and ultra-loss-making operations, without large-scale events or festivals, or even to its demolition. This would cost taxpayers much more than the planned transformations, he notes.
Future at stake
This political union is complemented by a Citizen Support Committee ‘Montreux Unie et Solidaire’. It brings together different sensibilities of the municipality: traders, craftsmen, industrialists, entrepreneurs, independents, association leaders and ordinary citizens.
The decision goes far beyond the fate of a building. It is about the future of the territory and its socio-economic balance, underlines this second committee. The current health crisis and the temporary shutdown of the operation of the Congress Center already demonstrate it today: a good part of the local economy depends on 2m2c. The impact of the already sensitive pandemic must not be aggravated.
The two committees will unite their efforts to convince people of the relevance of this new project. They will notably discuss, in the presence of the Municipality, with the inhabitants during the six public meetings planned in Montreux as well as on social networks. Particularly on the issue of costs.
Budget revised downwards
As a reminder, a first security and renovation project had been refused in a popular vote on February 10, 2019. This ballot was then canceled because part of the voting material for foreigners had not been sent on time.
The city, the parties and the committees in favor and against the first project then put the book back on the job. A new version, taking into account the message sent by the population, was concocted and easily adopted by the Municipal Council on February 26th.
This provides for a revised downward budget of nine million, reducing the municipality’s investment to 21 million francs. The total amount of the financing plan for the project amounts to 78 million francs. Considering the importance of the issue, all political parties wanted this decision to be submitted to the population through an optional spontaneous referendum.
/ ATS
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