Cologne delayed: new rules for city center spaces are still pending!

Cologne delayed: new rules for city center spaces are still pending!

The Cologne city administration is currently facing a dilemma: the new rules for events on popular city center squares, such as Roncalliplatz or at the cathedral, are a long time coming. Originally, a citizens' assembly was supposed to discuss the new regulations after the summer break in 2024, but as ksta.de reports, little progress has been made since then. Many residents and event participants are wondering what will happen next.

There are currently no decisions from the city council that will be made in early 2025. Mayor Henriette Reker is committed to redesigning public space in the city and giving it more “space to breathe”. The planned mission statement will be crucial in regulating the number and type of events in the central squares.

Planning challenges

According to the city's concept, the interests of residents, businesses and the general public should be weighted, which requires a certain degree of willingness to compromise. Daniel Kölle, the former head of the events department, explained that the new concept answers the very legitimate question of what kind of events Cologne actually wants.

The allocation concept for events regulates the number of event days. By 2028, 63 days are planned for the hay market and an additional 44 days for set-up and dismantling. According to the NRW leisure noise decree, only 18 of these days can be considered “rare events” on which noise pollution can be higher, which is certainly an important concern for residents. A citizen at Heumarkt has already mobilized vehemently against the noise.

Citizens' councils as a new form of dialogue

In order to involve citizens more closely in planning, the city relies on citizens' councils. These meetings consist of randomly selected members who discuss issues together and develop proposed solutions. The first citizens' assembly in Cologne deals with the topic of "Mobile in a livable neighborhood". Among other things, we are looking for ways to significantly reduce traffic in certain parts of the city and regulate the type of transport. This new form of dialogue is intended to help bring citizens' opinions directly into political work, as meinungfuer.koeln explains.

The city of Cologne has a lot to do with the current conception phase and the outstanding decisions. Many events stand or fall with the new requirements - an area that is of great importance for the quality of life in Cologne. It remains to be seen whether the city can overcome the challenges and take the concerns of residents seriously. One thing is clear, however: it is time for the city to set a clear course to make public spaces livable for all Cologne residents and visitors. After all, there are not only empty squares to be gained, but also a lively city.