Due to the construction of a new underground parking garage, 54 trees will be cut down in the Buda Castle, free green space will be taken away from the residents and they may also endanger the cave cellar system deep in the castle, said Márta V. Naszályi (Párbeszéd), the mayor of the 1st district on Friday, during a visit to the area at a press conference.
The mayor said: the Castle Department responsible for development does not release any information about the construction planned for the western slope of the castle. Thus, it was by chance that two days ago the local government learned about the permit issued by the Budapest Capital City Government Office a year ago to cut down 54 trees, including 36 completely healthy ones. The tree fellings are necessary for the construction of a 300-space underground parking garage under the National Hauszmann Program, she said.
In her opinion, the planned garage only has 300 spaces because an environmental impact study has not yet been prepared. No study has even been prepared, so no one can say what effect the underground parking will have on the protected cave cellar system deep in the castle.
However, it is certain – the mayor continued – that the recreation park currently in the area will be closed, and instead a vineyard and fruit plantation that closes at night is planned. She explained: many trees have already been cut down, and more will be cut down in the days and at a later date.
She also said: on Friday morning, they managed to prevent the felling of a tree, agreeing that the municipality would inspect the large poplar tree and carry out the necessary tree care treatment. Márta V. Naszályi expressed her hope that they will manage to save the other trees as well, and that the government will reject the plan for the castle’s underground garage.
Rebeka Szabó, the co-president of Párbeszéd, pointed out that there is a right to be outraged that healthy trees are being cut down in the Buda Castle because of the government’s priority investment, moreover, without consulting the local people and even without the knowledge and consent of the local municipality and mayor. In addition, they are doing all this for the construction of an underground parking garage, which not only destroys the green area, but also attracts additional car traffic to the castle.
pestinap.hu
