We addressed the issue of the stairs’ lack of functionality at the request of a Reader. Mothers with prams cannot use this route because the contractor, Miejski Zakład Gospodarki Mieszkaniowej w Bolesławcu, did not include ramps for prams in its design. As we learned from Janusz Kozioł, head of MZGM’s operations department, a Bolesławiec City Councilor, and one of the applicants for the renovation of the stairs, this was dictated by technical considerations. If ramps had been built, their incline would have been so steep that it could have led to an accident or even a child falling out of a pram.
“The project was analyzed and checked,” the councilor told us. It was checked, among others, by the City Hall. It was approved by then-deputy mayor Karol Stasik and the city architect. “If it had been possible, the architect would certainly have imposed the requirement to build ramps.”
As we have already mentioned, the stairs were renovated on the initiative of, among others, Janusz Kozioł. The head of the operations department was particularly keen for them to be renovated because “the technical condition of the previous stairs was downright catastrophic.” He is very pleased with the replacement of the stairs. “Today these stairs are safe. Their condition no longer poses a threat to residents’ lives.” At the same time, he added that every investment carried out by Miejski Zakład Gospodarki Mieszkaniowej is undertaken with both people with disabilities and mothers with children in mind. In this case, such amenities were omitted solely for technical reasons.
Janusz Kozioł admitted that in this matter, so far, he had encountered exclusively positive feedback from Bolesławiec residents.
(GA report, photos by MZ)