Conscious “eviction campaign” to enforce paid parking spaces?
The private, for-profit company LASK GmbH is receiving 30 million euros in tax money to build its stadium. At the same time, it is closing a former public commuter parking lot and wants to collect parking fees in the future. The responsible state councilor Achleitner should explain how he justifies this madness.
Petra Lindner, MFG Linz district spokeswoman
There is space for over 500 cars in the until recently public parking lot next to the TIPS Arena – or rather, the barriers have been down there for some time now, and signs indicate a large-scale parking ban. The LASK-affiliated Arena Event GmbH now holds the right to manage the parking space there after the city of Linz ceded its stadium and parking lot to the LASK. MFG Linz district spokeswoman Petra Lindner detects foul play: “Commuters are deliberately being temporarily driven away in order to deny the public interest and the need for a public commuter parking lot and then be able to introduce parking fees. The state of Upper Austria financed the LASK stadium with 30 million euros in tax money and then they also get money from the citizens through parking fees, that can’t be right.”
What is also interesting in this context is who is behind this “Arena Event GmbH”: There are three other GmbHs that in turn belong to the LASK environment. The LASK says that the parking lot can currently still be used free of charge outside of the Bundesliga dates. However, this use is almost impossible: the barriers are closed at two of the three entrances, and signs everywhere in the parking lot indicate that “parking is prohibited in the entire Raiffeisen Arena parking lot.”
Only at the only open entrance does a barely perceptible additional sign indicate that this parking ban only applies on match days.
Review: Until last year, the Gugl parking lot was used intensively during the week – not only by commuters, but also by residents. Currently there are only around 20-30 commuter cars parked there, everyone else is put off by the large signs and closed barriers. The thrust of LASK GmbH is clear: “In a few months, LASK will argue that the parking lot is hardly used anyway and that there is no public interest. “It’s a perfidious game that the LASK GmbHs are playing,” said MFG Linz district spokeswoman Petra Lindner.
“The private, for-profit company LASK GmbH is receiving 30 million euros in tax money to build its stadium. At the same time, it is closing a former public commuter parking lot and wants to collect parking fees in the future. The responsible state councilor Achleitner should explain how he justifies this madness.
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A former public parking lot, which was often used by commuters who were ideally able to switch to public transport, was virtually privatized: “In addition, the private, for-profit company LASK was supported with 30 million euros in tax money for the construction of its stadium. The responsible state councilor Achleitner should explain how he justifies this madness,” says Petra Lindner. According to media reports, LASK is already working on a “tariff model” – this means that the profit-oriented Profi Fußball GmbH will soon be collecting parking fees from commuters. Additional side effect: Due to the closure of the parking lot, many commuters are now moving to residential areas. These, in turn, should increasingly be converted into short-term parking zones, if this has not already happened: “This will also give residents a kiss on the hand, as they will all have to buy resident parking cards in the future.” Especially in view of the enormous failure of the state of Upper Austria to finally provide Park & Ride areas To set up on the outskirts of the city, the loss of this parking space in such a peripheral location is almost a shot in the foot. In any case, it is not such stupidity to explain it rationally.
MFG’s demand is clear: “The Gugl large car park with its over 500 parking spaces must be retained as a free parking area away from LASK game dates – for commuters, but also for residents. The parking pressure needs to be relieved from this area in particular. It cannot be the case that a for-profit private GmbH is supported with 30 million euros in tax money and that this GmbH is then allowed to cash in on formerly public parking spaces. Where is the social responsibility of the club and the state of Upper Austria here?” says Petra Lindner.
Questions & Contact:
MFG State Parliament Club Upper Austria
(+43 732) 7720 – 17402
press-you@mfg-oe.at
www.klubmfg-ooe.at
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