BRINEK: Car dealer annoys neighbours in residential area

GERTRUDE BRINEK: TV-SHOW 'Bürgeranwalt', 11 June 2011

Car dealer annoys neighbours in residential area

The neighbours of a big car dealer in the Lower Austrian town of Wiener Neustadt are in full cry about a renewed extension of his premises. The construction of a big hall right at the frontier to the single-family-houses is already ongoing – in the absence of an official building permit. A parking area was also built without permit on the neighbouring piece of land.

Ombudswoman Brinek criticises the competent authorities. Although the Municipal Authority Wiener Neustadt issued an order to stop the construction works, it only did so at a point in time when the construction of the building had already progressed considerably. The AOB takes the stance that for buildings constructed without permit or notification of building, discontinuation of the works or restoration to the original state is to be ordered. Comments Ombudswoman Brinek: "Both, the parking area as well as the hall are not permissible with the currently stipulated land-use. I demand the immediate removal of the parking area and an inspection of the hall by the construction authority."

Neighbours complain about a stadium

The football club of Rehberg near Krems is a successful contender in the Lower Austrian Regional League and supported by many fans. The neighbours, however, feel seriously affected on matchdays. A building which was already authorised in 2003 and originally intended as storage facility for training utensils has meanwhile become a VIP club house with catering facilities. Parties would last for hours after the match frequently causing noise pollution until midnight. The enlargement of the sports ground has also entailed an unresolved traffic problem which prevents the neighbours from accessing their land since so many parked cars block them out. Ombudswomen Brinek criticises that the neighbours' rights have been completely disregarded and challenges the authority to send the notification of the construction permit to the affected neighbours in order to take the objections into account. Furthermore, she suggests to review the use of the VIP building and the catering business. Says Brinek: "None of the neighbours opposes the sports ground on principle. Many problems could be solved by issuing appropriate stadium rules and an accompanying transport concept."