130 people exchange views on the Hellbach Valley at "round tables"

Around 130 citizens accepted the invitation from the town of Beckum to an information event in the cafeteria of the Rosa-Parks comprehensive school. In his introduction, Mayor Michael Gerdhenrich emphasised the overriding legal framework conditions of water law, which the town of Beckum had to observe when redesigning the Hellbach valley. For example, the administration had enquired several times with the lower water authority of the Warendorf district as to whether there were any options for maintaining the dam structure. The district of Warendorf unequivocally denied this. The design presented by the two specialist planning offices DTP Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH and Fischer Teamplan Ingenieurbüro GmbH therefore provides for the dammed Hellbach ("Hellbachteich") to be removed, which will give the Hellbach a near-natural watercourse bed in future.

The Hellbach is to run open and meandering through the valley. Floodplain areas are to be created in the entire area, it is to be laid out like a park and be traversable in an east-west direction. At the same time, the floodplains can be flooded in the event of a flood. In addition, elements of urban upgrading as a leisure and recreational area for all sections of the population are planned. In addition to the so-called floodplain viewpoints, where the watercourse can be approached, "green basins" are to be created to provide areas of recreational quality. A high-quality foot and cycle path is to run through the entire area. The existing playground is to be modernised.

At four themed "round tables", citizens were given the opportunity to voice their criticism and suggestions regarding the content of the planning. Mayor Michael Gerdhenrich assured those present that the objections would be closely scrutinised and, where appropriate and possible, taken into account in the further planning process.

In the coming weeks, the administration will also deal with the urban development committee's request from 5 March to review the crossing of the valley between the street "Am Hellbach" and "Adolf-Kolping-Straße". Citizens were also able to make suggestions on this at one of the "round tables". These will also be taken into account in the forthcoming review of variants.