Ombudswoman Schwarz calls for better control of operating conditions by authorities

Specifically, it concerns the operation of a livestock transport company, which was built directly on the property boundary of the Altmann family in Voitsdorf. The authorisation was only possible because the district authority judged the business to be a "special case". The prerequisite for this were several operating conditions to protect the neighbours, which are not being adhered to, such as no trips outside of operating hours at weekends.

The Altmann family has been reporting violations for years and has collected numerous photo evidence - for example of journeys at night. "For us as the Austrian Ombudsman Board, it is clear: the Altmann family has been exposed to permanent noise pollution for eight years and the authorities have been in default. The fact that the district authority has abandoned the Altmann family despite the numerous complaints and photographic evidence of offences and has not taken rigorous action against them is unacceptable. I call on the district authority to carry out complete checks on whether the business is complying with the requirements and to take appropriate action each time," said Ombudswoman Schwarz.

Dispute over the passageway in a residential complex in Döbling

The ORF programme Bürgeranwalt also "asked" how the dispute over the passageway in a residential complex in Döbling, which has been smouldering since 2019, has developed. For years, the Ombudsman Board has been calling for the construction of a public path, as provided for in the zoning plan. The 4 metre wide passageway should be available to the general public. In fact, the passage is not only blocked, but would not even be possible, as a garage access road and small fenced-in private gardens have been built. What is still missing is the district's decision on the extension.

District head Daniel Resch referred to the horrendous costs that would be associated with the conversion and that there was no need for this passageway. Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz criticised the temporary building permit as unlawful and emphasised: "The passageway was approved and promised, so it has to be built! It was clear from the outset that lighting, pavements and snow clearance would also be required. I cannot allow myself to be talked out of the costs now. I recommend that the district council ask the municipal authorities for financial support. In any case, we will not let up!"