About 30 people picket against construction of ice hockey arena in Riga
About 30 primarily elderly people gathered at Riga^apostrofs;s Congress Center this morning, next to the Riga City Council building, to protest against the planned construction of an ice hockey arena on the territory where family gardens are located.
About 30 primarily elderly people gathered at Riga's Congress Center this morning, next to the Riga City Council building, to protest against the planned construction of an ice hockey arena on the territory where family gardens are located.
The demonstrators hold placards saying: "We Say - Hockey, But Think - Easy Money!," "One Ice Hockey Arena=Death for 10,000 Trees" and others.
A statement released by the organizers of the picket stresses that trees are being felled in Riga particularly in the center of Riga with the "Riga City Council's blessing", and already now it is "difficult to breathe in downtown Riga".
The picketers are turning to the residents of Riga, requesting support for preservation of the largest "green island" near the center of the city - a 41.2 hectares family garden territory at the area enclosed by Skanstes Street, Sporta Street and Vesetas Street. The gardens, created in early 1900s, produce not only oxygen but also have esthetic value.
The territory is to be protected because of rare plants, as well as animals and birds, who live there.
The Riga City Council has done nothing to organize services and facilities on the territory in past ten years. Land utilization contracts are being signed for one year thereby restricting larger investments by the owners of gardens.
The statement points out that consultations are to be held with city designers and other specialists in planning construction of such large edifices.
Latvian and foreign businessmen plan to construct a multifunctional sports arena with at least 12,000 seats for the 2006 world ice hockey championships in Latvia.
It is expected that expenses for the construction of the arena could be justified in one year. According to estimates, the construction of the arena could total LVL 20 million to 35 million.
According to the project, several land plots have bee reserved for the arena- in the territory of Skanstes Street and Grostonas Street, Lucavsala Island and the territory enclosed by Vilkaines Street, Vienibas gatve Street, Jelgavas Street and railroad.
The participants of the picket believe that Lucavsala could be the most convenient territory for the arena because sports facilities would be in one location in Riga.
Kristaps Ceplis LETA
Copyright © LETA
The demonstrators hold placards saying: "We Say - Hockey, But Think - Easy Money!," "One Ice Hockey Arena=Death for 10,000 Trees" and others.
A statement released by the organizers of the picket stresses that trees are being felled in Riga particularly in the center of Riga with the "Riga City Council's blessing", and already now it is "difficult to breathe in downtown Riga".
The picketers are turning to the residents of Riga, requesting support for preservation of the largest "green island" near the center of the city - a 41.2 hectares family garden territory at the area enclosed by Skanstes Street, Sporta Street and Vesetas Street. The gardens, created in early 1900s, produce not only oxygen but also have esthetic value.
The territory is to be protected because of rare plants, as well as animals and birds, who live there.
The Riga City Council has done nothing to organize services and facilities on the territory in past ten years. Land utilization contracts are being signed for one year thereby restricting larger investments by the owners of gardens.
The statement points out that consultations are to be held with city designers and other specialists in planning construction of such large edifices.
Latvian and foreign businessmen plan to construct a multifunctional sports arena with at least 12,000 seats for the 2006 world ice hockey championships in Latvia.
It is expected that expenses for the construction of the arena could be justified in one year. According to estimates, the construction of the arena could total LVL 20 million to 35 million.
According to the project, several land plots have bee reserved for the arena- in the territory of Skanstes Street and Grostonas Street, Lucavsala Island and the territory enclosed by Vilkaines Street, Vienibas gatve Street, Jelgavas Street and railroad.
The participants of the picket believe that Lucavsala could be the most convenient territory for the arena because sports facilities would be in one location in Riga.
Kristaps Ceplis LETA
Copyright © LETA
