We were informed about the problem by a Reader. In an email to the editorial office, they wrote:

As the developer assured us, parking on Artyleryjska Street was supposed to be safe. The truth, however, is different. There is no question of driveways, because the city did not allow the developer to build them. […]

The city is creating a problem because a pavement [jak mówią mieszkańcy, część chodnika została zniszczona, kiedy kładziono sieć gazową – przyp. red.] and a bicycle path were supposed to be built there. And when we submitted an application for permission to build the driveways, the idea emerged that we would be the ones to pay for a 150-metre section of pavement.

There is another problem as well. A power line runs beneath the pavement and needs to be protected. These are further costs to be covered by the residents. As the deputy mayor said, “the city is doing us a favour,” which seems like a bit of a stretch.

Według urzędników, ulica Artyleryjska jest bardzo ruchliwaWedług urzędników, ulica Artyleryjska jest bardzo ruchliwa • Gerard Augustyn

Mr Leon, also an owner of an apartment on Artyleryjska Street, shares a similar opinion. “This is not our private property. I pay taxes—why should I build pavements for the city?” the man says indignantly.

Sixteen families are soon expected to move into the newly built houses. “Despite this, we still have neither a pavement nor driveways to the properties,” says Mr Leon. “The municipal authorities will not allow us to cross the city pavement, which in fact does not exist. We were even threatened with fines. They wanted to put up steel posts here so that we could not drive onto our own property. I have my own yard and cannot drive into it. It is absurd!”

Officials explained to the residents that a bicycle path was to be built on Artyleryjska Street. “They said that if we drove through here, we could kill cyclists; that it was an extremely busy street,” the man recounts. “Indeed, very busy: the last street in the city, with no shops or offices. Thirty cars drive along it per day,” the Bolesławiec resident says ironically.

The residents intervened in the matter with Wiesław Ogrodnik, deputy mayor of Bolesławiec. “Mr Ogrodnik said that if everyone drove to work at eight in the morning, the street would become congested and accidents would occur. That is absurd,” says Mr Leon. “It will be worse when people start parking their cars on both sides of the road. That is when it will become dangerous here.”

Magistrat nie chce nam pozwolić na przejeżdżanie przez miejski chodnik, którego tak naprawdę nie ma. Straszono nas nawet mandatami. Chciano tu stalowe słupki postawić, abyśmy nie mogli wjeżdżać na własny teren – mówi pan LeonMagistrat nie chce nam pozwolić na przejeżdżanie przez miejski chodnik, którego tak naprawdę nie ma. Straszono nas nawet mandatami. Chciano tu stalowe słupki postawić, abyśmy nie mogli wjeżdżać na własny teren – mówi pan Leon • Gerard Augustyn

We asked Agnieszka Gergont, the municipal office’s spokesperson, about the matter. We waited more than a month for a reply. In an email to the editorial office, the spokesperson wrote:

Individual owners of buildings located on Artyleryjska Street are already submitting applications concerning the location of driveways to their properties. For this purpose, a meeting was organised with the applicants, at which Deputy Mayor Wiesław Ogrodnik presented proposed solutions to the problem, including:

  • the pavement on the side of the buildings will be closed to pedestrian traffic;
  • one-way traffic will be introduced on the road (Artyleryjska Street);
  • the driveways will be built by all property owners and at their expense, by one contractor (lowering the kerb along the entire length). The owners will also cover the cost of laying the cable in a protective conduit;
  • each owner will individually submit an application to agree on the location of the driveway and obtain a building permit.

It is not yet known how the problem of the driveways on Artyleryjska Street will be resolved. We will return to the matter.

The name of the person featured in the article has been changed.

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We received the tip about the dispute over the pavement and driveways on Artyleryjska Street from one of our Readers. If you also have important information, send an SMS, call or email us. We guarantee anonymity.

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