Gotha on the move: Citizens should submit suggestions for improvement!

Gotha on the move: Citizens should submit suggestions for improvement!

In Gotha, space is now being created for the voices of citizens. With the new section “The reader has the word”, the editorial team at Gotha Aktuell would like to offer citizens a platform to draw attention to everyday problems in the city and the surrounding area. From smelly garbage on sidewalks to missing play equipment in playgrounds to broken street lights, everyone can submit their concerns in the form of photos and short texts. This is possible conveniently by email redaktion@gotha-aktuell.de or via an online form. What is particularly pleasing is that the anonymity of the submitters is guaranteed - their names and email addresses will not be published. The goal of this initiative is very clear: to raise awareness and bring forward important issues in the city, such as Gotha Current reported.

Citizen participation is a topic that is currently being hotly debated in Gotha. Bernd Fundheller, the district chairman of the LEFT, emphasizes that Gotha and the Gotha district have a lot of unused potential. He compares the city to a “sleeping giant” just waiting to be awakened. This old residential city not only has a rich cultural history, but also benefits from its location near the Thuringian Forest. There are numerous tourist destinations in the region, such as the famous Fahner Höhe or the interesting orchards, which invite you to linger and discover. Fundheller sees Gotha clearly on the rise and not as disadvantaged, but as a city with development opportunities, although the Ohratalbahn to Gräfenroda is not yet being used optimally. This railway could become a key to more tourist interest if investors can be attracted.

Heat planning and local engagement

Another important concern of the city administration is municipal heat planning. An application for funding was submitted in late summer 2023 and was approved on March 7, 2024. The aim is to make the heat supply to the buildings greenhouse gas-neutral by 2045, which represents an exciting challenge. We are currently examining which heating technologies fit best into the city's infrastructure - from local and district heating to innovative heat pumps and hydrogen networks. The first draft for the heat planning should be ready by the end of March 2025, and Gotha municipal utilities have already been commissioned to implement it. Citizens also take part in this process: The first citizen participation took place on December 11th, 2024, in which around 40 interested parties were involved in the dialogue gotha.de communicates.

The city is also planning a second citizen participation, which is scheduled for April 2025. It is important not only to inform citizens, but also to actively involve them in decisions in order to promote acceptance and understanding of such projects. Ultimately, a valuable asset like the digital twin of the city of Gotha can help to optimally analyze and design heating requirements and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the plans for a new shopping center are sparking more and more discussions among citizens. Traders and residents are eager to discuss and criticize the idea, while those responsible emphasize the advantages of such a project. The dialogue about Gotha's development remains exciting and one thing is clear: there are ideas and potential for optimization around every corner. In this sense, it will continue to be important to actively awaken the “sleeping giant” and to take the voices of citizens seriously.