icon image. Photo: About dts news agency
Berlin. The municipalities in Germany are demanding more financial help from the federal and state governments for the operation, maintenance and renovation of the outdoor pools. “In particular due to inflation and rising energy prices, the costs of operating outdoor pools have risen,” said the general manager of the Association of Municipalities and Cities, Gerd Landsberg, of the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition).
“It needs special support from the federal and state governments to modernize outdoor and indoor pools and to renovate them energetically,” he demands. “The summer heat is certainly a reason to keep outdoor pools open and to be able to offer people cooling. The more opportunities there are for people to cool off during major heat waves, the better,” said Landsberg. “But it is also important that the open-air pools have an important function in the context of swimming lessons in schools. After all, open-air pools and swimming pools also fulfill an important function as social meeting points in a city or community,” says the Association of Municipalities Managing Director.
“It is clear that there are discussions about the cancellation of voluntary tasks, especially in the municipalities that are in a difficult budget situation. The situation in many municipalities is very difficult, especially with regard to the financing of sports and cultural activities.” The most recent experiences with outbreaks of violence in open-air swimming pools have also made the situation of the municipalities more difficult because they would have to spend more money on security measures.
“Certainly, the additional costs for a permanent security service – depending on the pool and deployment strength – make the operation of pools, which are usually always subsidized in the municipalities, more difficult,” said Landsberg. Because of the special importance of the municipal outdoor pools for the social services of general interest, a decision on the necessary closure of the pools is not taken lightly.
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2023-07-21 05:19:35
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