Newest Press Release
April 3rd, 2009 New entrance to the South tower finished
* * * * * * * * * * January 21st, 2009
According to a verdict by the Federal Supreme Court skaters are considered to be pedestrians (for the time being) and therefore are traffic participants since 2002. As a result skaters also must move cautiously and considerately according to § 1 of traffic regulations. But skaters on Cologne Cathedral's slab move neither as pedestrians, nor cautiously and considerately, instead they are practising. Skaters go in for sports on Roncalli square. The city of Cologne is obligated to provide for a “dignified surrounding area of Cologne Cathedral” - this was proven by the ZDV with a documentation about the clearance of Cologne Cathedral last December. Also Chief Burgomaster Fritz Schramma had acknowledged this obligation publicly. And how do the parliamentary party leaders of the city council view the skating sport on the Cologne Cathedral's slab? The ZDV asked for opinions: Winrich Granitzka (CDU) stresses his parliamentary party sees in the “skating mischief on Roncalli square” not only the main reason behind the violation of the dignity of Cologne Cathedral's environment, but also “behind the threatening of the pedestrians' safety.” Therefore he assures the Chief Burgomaster of the CDU's “complete support” for helping to create a dignified environment of Cologne Cathedral. Martin Börschel (SPD) calls the “area around Cologne Cathedral being the poster child of our city” and emphasises that an appropriate surrounding area of Cologne Cathedral should be provided for. Barbara Moritz (Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen) reports, that now it “seems accomplished” to have found “a suitable, attractive area adjoining the southern Rheinau harbour” for the “sportsmen” skaters. “The realisation must follow as soon as possible.” Ralph Sterck (FDP) points out, that his parliamentary group has made an attempt in 2006 already, to “remove the skater's scene on Roncalli square by origination of new proposals” - and that the parliamentary party would begin a new initiative in the case of a “new majority situation.” The president of the ZDV, Michael H. G. Hoffmann, is pleased about the unanimous opinion of the city council, that the Cologne Cathedral's environment must regain its dignity earliest possible and that the parliamentary party of Die Grünen can defer to concrete progresses already. However, states Hoffmann, now one must follow up one's words with action so that skaters could move to their new training ground by spring: “Because Roncalli square is not a sports field – neither for skaters.”
December 8th, 2008 Chief Burgomaster Schramma acknowledges the obligations of the town of Cologne for a "dignified Cathedral environment": "Roncalli-Square must be protected" "We will have to increase the value of the square and we will have to protect it. I will take the issue to the town board and integrate all sides affected." With these words Cologne's Chief Burgomaster Fritz Schramma acknowledged the obligations of the town Cologne to provide for a dignified surrounding area of Cologne Cathedral, during a press conference of Central Cologne Cathedral Building Society (ZDV). That this obligation exists in actual fact, is the most important result of the first documentation regarding the clearance of Cologne Cathedral at the end of the 19th century.*
Press conference of the ZDV on December 5th, 2008 at Excelsior Hotel Ernst:
"I am glad, that the result gives me backing," the Chief Burgomaster stressed his support for the ZDV's concern, to finally terminate noisiness and disturbances by skater, rickshaws and other "traffic" on Cologne Cathedral's paving slab and to make restitution of a "worthy formation" of Cologne Cathedral's surrounding area, which had been promised permanently by the town during Cologne Cathedral's uncovering. Cologne Cathedral provost Dr. Norbert Feldhoff agreed with ZDV-president Michael H. G. Hoffmann: "I think, that the majority of the citizens of Cologne want a calming of the square. And I hope, that by this paper a very task-orientated discussion will emerge, of how to put this square in a shape more dignified, which has undoubtedly an extraordinarily meaning for Cologne and especially for its visitors. We will contend for how to arrive at this dignified appearance." Cathedral master-builder Prof. Barbara Schock-Werner added: "By Mrs. Wirtz's book it becomes clear, that this matter is not a concern of complete strangers worldly innocent people, but rather a legal basis existing now, by which all people have to abide, if they don't want to break contracts deliberately. That is the distinction of before and after this book." Host of the press conference, ZDV-president Michael H. G. Hoffmann clarified why the society had commissioned this documentation: "We wish for the city council to discuss this issue and to decide clearly to be still committed to these requirements and shape a dignified surrounding area for Cologne Cathedral. With the "we" I am not referring to the Central Cologne Cathedral Building Society, but both the citizens, who have enforced this right to an enduring dignified surrounding area of Cologne Cathedral back then, and all the citizens, who want to use that right again today." The ZDV will critically observe the process of events - "and if necessary, remind the town of Cologne of the fulfilment of the obligations it had committed to," said ZDV's president.
* Forschungen zum Kölner Dom, Band 2
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