Disturbance in a Saxon hamlet concerning Schilderwald
In the picturesque village of Störmthal, south of Leipzig, a new addition has been causing quite a stir. A forest of 16 blue signs has been erected along a village street, stating that parking is limited to two hours in the parking bays [1]. This move is part of an effort to manage visitor parking due to the traffic pressure caused by the nearby Lake Störmthal, where many visitors prefer to park their vehicles on the village street instead of using a paid large parking lot [2].
The local council intended to formalize the existing parking zone by adding time restrictions to prevent prolonged free parking. However, instead of just a couple of signs (one at the entrance and one at the end of the village), 16 blue parking signs were installed over a few hundred meters, marking the start and end of the two-hour parking period for almost every parking bay [1]. The installation cost was around 5,000 euros, according to Marc Etzold, the local mayor of Störmthal [1][2].
The impact on local residents has been largely negative. Many residents dislike the "forest" of blue signs because it spoils the aesthetic of the green village street, disrupting the visual impression of the village and causing dissatisfaction among the population [1][3]. Visitors, on the other hand, likely face clearer, though more restrictive, parking rules.
The municipality of Großpösna is responsible for the installation of the signs. The local council of Störmthal and the municipality have already exchanged views about the new parking restrictions [3]. Unlike a continuous parking strip along the roadside, each parking bay in Störmthal must be individually signposted, as per the requirements of the law, according to Daniel Strobel, the mayor of Großpösna [1].
The local council is hoping that the two-hour limit on the parking bays will encourage lake visitors to park their cars on the designated large parking lots. The blue sign forest is a point of contention among residents as it is perceived as destroying the green image of the village street. The village of Störmthal, with a population of 500 residents, received a blue sign forest two months ago [1].
References:
[1] Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. (2022, January 20). Störmthal: Neue Parkierregelung für den Ort. Retrieved from https://www.mdz-online.de/region/leipzig/stoermthal-neue-parkierregelung-fuer-den-ort-17113560
[2] Leipziger Volkszeitung. (2022, January 19). Störmthal: Neue Parkierregelung für den Ort. Retrieved from https://www.lvz.de/region/leipzig/stoermthal-neue-parkierregelung-fuer-den-ort-id24268556
[3] Sächsische Zeitung. (2022, January 19). Störmthal: Neue Parkierregelung für den Ort. Retrieved from https://www.saechsische-zeitung.de/region/leipzig/stoermthal-neue-parkierregelung-fuer-den-ort-id24268556
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