NS Stari Grad: We did not support the construction of an underground garage on Liberation Square - Alija Izetbegović

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Following the information that councillors of Our Party in the Municipality of Stari Grad in Sarajevo supported the Decision on the adoption and implementation of the Urban Project Liberation Square/Alija Izetbegović, which plans the construction of an underground garage at that location, the Club of Councillors of Our Party in that Municipality issued a statement.

"Councillors of Our Party did not support the urban project Liberation Square/Alija Izetbegović. We believe that during the preparation of this project, the opinion of experts and institutions, who have publicly expressed opposition to the construction of an underground garage in this urban space of invaluable value in recent days, was completely ignored. We further note that we are not opposed to the arrangement of this space; on the contrary, we believe that this square can and should be further arranged, but without underground garages, which will certainly further burden the entire area of the urban core of the city, further pollute it and create new and greater traffic congestion. Existing spatial plans do not envisage a garage at this location, but they do envisage several garages in the immediate vicinity, and for that reason we also do not see a great need for this project. We also find it unacceptable that a large number of trees and vegetation from the park are permanently removed, especially considering the lack of park and green areas in the city center, as well as the fact that the Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage has recognized this area as a space of high value.

Our Party will continue to fight against projects that damage the rich urban heritage of our municipality and city, and we will currently actively participate in the public debate on the garage construction project in order to try, through legal procedures, to at least mitigate the negative consequences of this project," they stated. 

Councillors in the Municipal Council of Stari Grad from Our Party are Zlatan Ljuhar and Vedran Grebo.