Berlstedt: Youth club remains closed due to serious fire protection deficiencies!

Berlstedt: Youth club remains closed due to serious fire protection deficiencies!

In Berlstedt, a small community in the Weimar region, the youth club remains closed - indefinitely. A recently published report has highlighted alarming fire safety deficiencies that are currently making reopening impossible. The defects include a lack of escape routes, outdated electrical systems that pose a fire risk, and load-bearing beams that do not meet the required fire resistance classes. Mayor Thomas Heß describes October 29th as “one of the darkest days” of his term in office, when the decision to close was made. The youth club was actually supposed to be back in operation on November 1st after a long break after a new social worker was found.

The affected young people, who regularly visited the club, are now faced with the challenge of finding alternative meeting places. Mayor Heß is aware of this situation and is actively looking for interim solutions. In discussions with the young people, he took into account their wishes. One consideration is containers near the school as a temporary solution, as there are no free spaces available in Buttelstedt, the nearest town at 7 km away. In the long term, however, the local and city council must find a permanent solution, although the current budget does not include any budget for the construction of a new youth club.

Youth club: An important meeting place

The youth club was an important place for social exchange and leisure activities for many young people. The expression of joy of life and community was not only the club itself, but also the events that took place there. Young people are now forced to reorganize their free time, which represents a significant challenge in the current situation.

The closure of the youth club also brings up the importance of maintaining and promoting facilities for young people. Having a stable point of contact is crucial for the development and well-being of young people.

The search for a suitable transition space, be it through containers or other solutions, should not only bridge the current emergency, but also give young people a voice and take their needs seriously. Mayor Heß has already taken the first steps to remain active in this difficult situation and to involve young people.

It remains to be seen how quickly a permanent solution can be found. The close cooperation between those responsible in the community and the young people will be crucial in the coming weeks in order to create a space for meetings and exchange again.