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Fight for the tatami bathroom: citizens and municipal utilities are mobilizing!
The pools in Altenburger Land are on the verge of extinction. Committed citizens are campaigning for its preservation through petitions and campaigns.
Fight for the tatami bathroom: citizens and municipal utilities are mobilizing!
Numerous swimming pools in Thuringia are facing closure, and the Tatami pool in Altenburger Land is a particularly worrying example. Thuringia24 reports that the causes of the alarming situation are, on the one hand, the dilapidated infrastructure and, on the other hand, the lack of personnel.
The employees of the Schmölln public utility company are committed to preserving the tatami bath. On July 8, 2023, posters with the message “We don’t want to close” were hung in front of the bathroom. Pool manager David Neumann emphasizes that the public must be made aware of the difficult situation. Five more posters are to be placed at prominent locations in the city by the end of the week.
Petition and financial hurdles
In addition, actions such as a petition were launched to collect signatures. So far, almost 10,000 signatures have been collected and the number is constantly growing. The operating costs of the tatami bath total 2.5 million euros, of which only 60% can be covered by entrance fees. However, that remains too little, as there are still around 1.2 million euros outstanding for which there is currently no financing. MDR explains that the city of Schmölln is already paying 400,000 euros and the state is paying 407,000 euros. But there are still 400,000 euros left that are urgently needed.
Mayor Schrade hopes for financial support from the Altenburgerland district and the state government. It is anchored in the coalition agreement that the preservation of all Thuringian indoor swimming pools should be guaranteed. Schrade also plans to make an appointment with Thuringia's Finance Minister Katja Wolf to explore further options for support.
Overall location of the Thuringian indoor swimming pools
The challenges for indoor swimming pools in Thuringia are not isolated. The Thuringians report that 40 municipal indoor swimming pools are in a similar dilemma and are demanding financial support from the state. At a meeting in Erfurt, representatives of the pools and mayors described the tense situation: money for maintenance and renovation is becoming increasingly scarce, while operating costs continue to rise.
Most Thuringian pools date from 30 years ago and are in urgent need of extensive renovations. It is often overlooked how important these facilities are for society: around 4 million people visit the pools every year and around 40,000 children learn to swim here. The pools also offer training opportunities for numerous sports clubs and host thousands of rehabilitation courses to promote health. Erfurt's mayor Andreas Horn is therefore calling for support from the Free State, even if it brings with it its own financial restrictions.
Time is running out and the future of the pools is in jeopardy: without financial help, the operational viability of many municipal indoor pools in Thuringia will be at risk. All those involved are required to clarify open questions promptly and to secure the pools for the coming generation.