The Citizens´ Workshop at Annaberg-Buchholz

Nearly 60 fellow citizens followed our invitation to the Citizens‘ Workshop in snow-clad Annaberg-Buchholz. In sometimes fierce debates they discussed current problems and future prospects for the administrative district, assisted by a number of expert counsels, namely the district administrator of the Erzgebirgskreis, Frank Vogel, the Saxon State Minister of Science and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, Mr. Vogel’s deputy Andreas Stark, the head of the district’s Department for Environment, Traffic and Security, Rico Ott, and the Chief of Saxony’s Southwestern Police District, Sonja Penzel.

Ranking high on the participants’ agenda was the lack of doctors. Too small is the number of doctors who want to practice in the countryside outside the big cities, while the need is especially high there in the Erzgebirgskreis district.

Many participants also wished for an improved public transport infrastructure. There should be more connections to Annaberg-Buchholz and Chemnitz. Fares should be lower, and there should be a Sachsenticket for state-wide travel at affordable rates. A complaint was that roads riddled with pot-holes at the end of the winter, after the generous application of de-icing salt, make car travel slow. Moreover, the road network should be expanded, by building new roads as cross-links that make it easier to travel from place to place, and thus reduce mileage. This should be made possible by additional investment and improved planning laws that accelerate construction.

Several participants raised the topic of better crime prevention. The authorities involved – ranging from the police, the district administration, the municipalities to social care workers – ought to improve their cooperation. Some stated that there was a gulf between the actual crime statistics and how people perceived the security situation, and asked for proposals how one could bring people’s perception closer to the reality as mirrored by the data. A key point was the role of the community police officers in this undertaking. When local, regional and state efforts lead to successes and a markably improved security situation, this should be communicated more effectively.

Many participants demanded to reduce red tape hindering civic and community engagement. Application procedures to access public funds should be streamlined and accelerated. This and more public acknowledgment would also help civic organizations to recruit more volunteers.

In order to stimulate the regional economy, the school curriculum should include lessons in traditional crafts like wooden toy making and bobbin lacing. This would bond young people to the region. Some also wished for more institutions of higher learning and public R&D in the district.

Participants welcomed the event format and especially the positive, sober and non-partisan atmosphere. For many, the talk on an equal footing deserved special mention.

Many participants also appreciated the new dialogue events offered by the Saxon state government. A point of criticism, however, was that current problems dominated the talk and visions of the future were sidelined due to a lack of time.