(Local report from Upper Austria)
Many hosts on Steyrer Stadtplatz are pissed off. As early as December, the local council decided with the votes of SPÖ, FPÖ, Greens and MFG by 50 percent. This increase is argued with the 1A location, the city square is an outstanding place to do good business - public good costs something, said Mayor Markus Vogl (SPÖ). The displeasure with the hosts is great. In Wels and Amstetten, the innkeepers learn support, in Steyr they are beaten, Hans Mader criticized the municipal council decision. In all other cities, the fees have remained affordable.
Fees significantly higher than in Linz
For many years, the hosts and traders have been trying to revitalize the city square with events, commercial markets, long shopping night, concerts or beer tapes and the like and to counteract the already high vacancies. In an open letter, the “Sixpack Wirte” turn to the mayor Vogl. It describes the increase of the fee for a garden by 50 percent as disproportionate and unacceptable and criticism expressed that it appears that the administration of the city of Steyr would deliberately try to deteriorate the framework conditions for companies. A comparison of the garden fees shows that for the best location in Linz (country road) with a much higher frequency than the city square in Steyr, the costs at 4.23 euros per square meter are 61 percent cheaper than that of Steyr. It is also emphasized that in summer the hosts organize a “delicacy market” with live music almost every Friday to revitalize the town square. The costs for this amount to around 1,000 euros a week.
Wirtshaus only for a small minority?
The increase in the garden fee certainly does not contribute to the revival of the city square, so that extinction is more likely to be promoted. Due to the enormous inflation of energy costs, rents, and food, the battle of survival of the little innkeepers is a big challenge anyway. In addition, there are the increasingly frequent and more lacking guests who can no longer afford a visit to the host due to the extreme inflations. The wage robbery of recent years shows its effect! If wages would rise accordingly, not so many guests would not be missing. The tribulation of small businesses goes hand in hand with the tribulation of the workers and employees.
Image source: Steyr, Steyr, Imagine , Wikimedia, CC by-sa 4.0 Urkunde