It was the final step that was deemed necessary, not least to protect City Hall employees. Because the increasing willingness to conflict and violence towards the employees would have forced the city of Linz to take this step, which was not easy, as Tina Blöchl (SP), Deputy Mayor responsible for personnel, states. The New Town Hall is actually an open house, but events have left no other choice.
The municipal council thus also approved the renovation work, which will start in autumn and should be completed in spring 2023. In concrete terms, the security work looks like this: Security checkpoints are being installed in the area of the main entrance to the New Town Hall, which will in future be connected to access controls for visitors and employees. The various entrances and exits are mostly closed or replaced by secure access for employees.
The “Right of Residence” department will be moved from the ground floor to the first floor. Controlled access for customers via the lock increases security for this department as well.
Basically, the structural conditions in the New Town Hall are a challenge in terms of planning, says City Councilor Dietmar Prammer (SP). However, a good solution has been found that serves to ensure the safety of employees and visitors and “in no way affects” proximity to the public. Security City Councilor Michael Raml (FP) sees the locks as an alignment with current authority standards. Every citizen would continue to be able to use official channels – “even with more security”.
Source: Nachrichten
