Lubartów, November 2019
Communication, i.e. how Lubartów consulted the solutions adopted in the technical documentation being prepared for bicycle paths, and now problems are brewing.
Should councilors activate and encourage residents to participate in social consultations? In our opinion, it is more than criticizing the authorities for insufficiently informing residents about an important debate. Especially since it was the councilors who established the rules and procedure for conducting public consultations with the inhabitants of the City of Lubartów. They are specified in the Resolution No. XXI / 119/12 of the Lubartów City Council of March 26, 2012. It is enough to reach for local legal acts. It took us very little time. The councilors assumed that consultations are carried out in cases provided for by law and in other matters important for the Lubartów City Commune. They also secured the right to organize consultations at the request of a group of 7 councilors from the Lubartów City Council.
How did it happen in Lubartów? Due to the number of participants and written applications, the interest in the consultations cannot be considered as universal and the result alone reliable. Exactly twenty residents decided to comment on the construction of bicycle paths and the entire project.
In connection with the accession of Lubartów to the implementation of the partnership project entitled "Mobile LOF", the Mayor of the City of Lubartów Janusz Bodziacki on July 12, 2017 ordered a public consultation. He cordially invited the residents of Lubartów and all interested parties to participate in the meeting and submit comments and suggestions to the documents being prepared. Of course, it was about discussing the solutions adopted in the technical documentation being prepared for bicycle paths located at the following streets: Łąkowa, Piaskowa, Słowackiego, Rynek I, Lubelska, Batalionów Chłopskie, Leśna, and 1 Maja.
Okay, but what exactly will be created as part of the Mobile LOF and what exactly is it?
In the last term of office, the City Hall published information that Lubartów joined the partnership project "Mobile LOF" together with 11 municipalities that are part of the Agreement of Municipalities of the Lublin Functional Area. We knew what would be financed under the "Mobile LOF". And today we regret that our voice was not heard.
An important matter rather went unnoticed. Especially that there was something to discuss, because the value of the project in the scope implemented by the City of Lubartów Commune is PLN 9,737,145.14 . of which the EU co-financing is PLN 8,173,062.73 . The project will be implemented in the years 2014-2020.
What did we - the inhabitants miss? We did not comment on the investment:
1. Construction of car parks to improve the functioning of transfer points located in the city, supplemented by the possibility of using a bicycle as an alternative means of communication in the area of LOF. The task will include:
- 3 "Park & Ride" car parks with 110 parking spaces, including 4 for disabled people. There will be parking lots located near the railway and bus stations,
- 9 Bike & Ride bicycle parking (100 parking spaces).
2. Construction of approximately 10 km long bicycle paths located in the city, as well as designation of approximately 5 km long bicycle paths.
3. Construction of 150 pieces of energy-saving lighting that will be located
at car parks and pedestrian and bicycle paths located along the railway line.
In the consultation report, available on the municipal websites of the Public Information Bulletin, we read:
16 people participated in the meeting with the residents. Remarks during the meeting concerned mainly the bicycle paths in the city center, between ul. Lipowa and Alejami Tysiąclecia, where pedestrians and cyclists would have the same rules and rights, and cyclists would no longer be able to use the road towards Lublin. This solution did not satisfy the residents, due to the extension of the time needed to drive through the center and the safety of pedestrians.
The suggestions of the residents also concerned the separation of road traffic from pedestrians and, if possible, the separation of the bicycle lane from the road for the safety of all road users (...)
Today, we hear negative opinions of the residents about the construction of bicycle paths. We hear that the pavement will be too narrow. Overall it will be dangerous because we cannot share with cyclists and vice versa.
What to say? This time the milk spilled out and I have no chance for a change, as with the disappearing island in the park. What solution do we see? We must remember that we are the hosts of this city. The councilors are our delegates to whom we have entrusted with the important duty of looking after our interests. Let us not release them from their obligation, because after the elections it suddenly turned out that the same today's councilors understand the local government differently than yesterday's candidates for councilors. We are not to be absent from their work for five years just because they have promised to perform their duties properly. Some finish their promise: "So help me God."
Let us ask councilors, require contact, ask for the organization of meetings, so as not to complain later that we have failed to take care of something.
Art. 23 of the Act of March 8, 1990 on the commune self-government states that the councilor is obliged to follow the good of the commune self-government community.
"The councilor maintains a permanent relationship with the inhabitants and their organizations , and in particular accepts postulates submitted by the inhabitants of the commune and submits them to the commune authorities for consideration, but is not bound by the voters' instructions."
Are (do you) have any postulates? We hear that people do not have time to go to consultations or follow what is going on in the city. But that means they don't have any particular expectations. No reason to complain later.