50 years of Nippes district council: An anniversary to celebrate or complain about?

50 years of Nippes district council: An anniversary to celebrate or complain about?

Recently, the Nippes district parliament had every reason to celebrate: it has now been active for 50 years. The district council, which was founded on June 6, 1975, saw the light of day as part of a comprehensive regional and municipal reform in North Rhine-Westphalia. The first meeting took place shortly after the election of the first district representatives on May 4, 1975, and the then elected official and historian Franz Irsfeld was one of the first representatives for the SPD. His book “Nippes Yesterday and Today” from 1983 testifies to his commitment to the district, which is now part of the Nippes district, which also includes the districts of Bilderstöckchen, Longerich, Mauenheim, Niehl, Riehl and Weidenpesch.

But are 50 years of district representation cause for celebration or is it a “marriage of convenience”? District mayor Diana Siebert asked the question at the anniversary evening, expressing the ambivalent feelings that many in the district council share. “There were moments when one could doubt the decision-making powers of the city council,” explained Siebert, referring to the challenges that the district council is currently facing. An important issue remains the relationship with the city council and the implementation of decisions made, which often have to be put to the test.

A look into history

The district representatives were originally set up to promote proximity to the citizens, because they are democratically legitimized bodies, elected by the citizens, which are supposed to be closely oriented towards the concerns and needs of the people. The legal basis for this is anchored in the municipal code of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Nippes district representatives were not without controversy in the early days, which Irsfeld and Erich Hermans, who also comes from the first BV, emphasized during the celebration. Hermans highlighted the long fight to make cycling more friendly, an issue that continues to be controversial.

The anniversary was celebrated with an exhibition entitled “50 Years of District Representation” in the atrium of the district town hall. The exhibition, which can be seen until June 23, 2025, shows the district council's successes, including the important addition of the Neusser Straße/Gürtel elevated train stop with lifts and stairs. Particularly moving were the anecdotes that Veedel chroniclers shared during the supporting program, and the Cologne combo “Jamaika Jupp”, which presented classics from Veedel in reggae style.

Knick-knacks today and tomorrow

Nippes, located on the left bank of the Rhine and north of Cologne city center, has an eventful history. It became known for its gastronomy as early as the 17th century. With industrialization, important institutions developed, such as the Clouth Gummiwerke, which was considered a major employer until 2003. The district council today has a colorful political landscape with different parties that are represented to varying degrees. In the last distribution in 2020, the Greens' share was 35.9%, followed by the SPD with 21.5%. The high voter turnout is also known, an indication that citizens care about their district.

The challenges and changes in the Nippes district, which has existed in its current form since 1975, will continue to provide plenty of scope for discussions and decisions that will come to the district council in the coming years. It will be interesting to see how this rustic Cologne Veedel will develop over the next 50 years.