Protest against the planned construction of the Lidla distribution centre in Gietrzwald

pch24.pl 6 months ago

In respective cities of Poland, including Olsztyn and Białystok in front of Lidl stores, opponents planned by this commercial network to build a distribution center in Gietrzwald protested on Saturday. Ecologists and residents of the municipality joined the demonstration organized by the Gietrzwald Defence Committee representing right-wing and Catholic communities.

Similar protests were held outside Lidl stores in another cities in Poland. In Olsztyn, protesters held banners with inscriptions: “We do not want your trash in Gietrzwald”, “Stop Lidl, aid Gietrzwald”, “Getrzwald for pilgrims, not for magazines.”

Antoni Górski of the Gietrzwałd Defence Committee told PAP that the construction of a distribution center in Gietrzwałd would destruct the area. – The planned centre is to be located on 40 hectares of land and located 800 metres from the Gietrzwald Basilica. The scenery and the area will be destroyed. Maples will be cut down on a kilometer of historical pilgrimage avenue. It's not just about the distribution center, it's besides about the waste being collected from all Lidla stores in the region. The launch of the centre besides involves increased truck traffic of up to 160 trucks per day said Antoni Górski.

Ecologists and residents of the gietrzwald municipality besides joined the protest about right-wing and Catholic environments. 1 of the residents of the municipality of Aleksandra Kozuń told PAP that "any individual who got acquainted with the investment plan will be against it due to the fact that most people surviving in the municipality will lose". – The distribution centre is to be established in the protected scenery area of the Pasłęka Valley, which is the area where investments are prohibited, permanently changing the landscape. The municipality of Gietrzwald was until late advertised as a wonderful place to live, quiet and peaceful. Construction plots were sold and a minute later a local planning plan was adopted, which assumes services, which allows to build a distribution centre – stressed, adding that they did not convince her that the investment would make jobs.

– I don't want to drive a forklift in a hall without light for 12 hours, my neighbors aren't curious either. Any jobs won't satisfy us. We protest that the centre is to be built close the buildings, and the lake may be polluted and there will be sound – She explained.

Lidla's press office sent her position to PAP, which stated that "Gietrzwald's area is being considered for the construction of a fresh facility". ‘However, at this point, the possible start date for this investment is not known. However, we would like to stress that in this area a possible distribution centre would be established, where food products offered in Lidl Polska stores would be stored. On the another hand, false information is that there will be a landfill here. We besides stress that from the very beginning of our work on each of our investments, we have analysed all the options that are most suited to the environment and neighbouring with the investment of nature" - said Lidl in his communication.

As the company explained, the plan of the planned distribution centre in Gietrzwald meets the requirements of the local spatial planning plan. The fresh building is expected to be nearly 1,000 metres from the utmost side of the basilica building. The fresh investment means more than 200 fresh jobs for local communities," the network emphasizes. According to Lidla representatives, the company is committed to being a “good neighbor” of local communities. "Our objects do not emit any uncomfortable fragrances to the environment. Due to the location of the game in Gietrzwald and the remoteness from the compact residential building, the possible activity of our distribution centre will be comfortable for local residents" - explained.

Lidl stated that natural materials would not be disposed of, processed or incinerated on the site of a possible fresh investment. "We give the natural materials a second life, so the waste will be transferred to the recycler on an ongoing basis" added.

Gietrzwałd is simply a Warminian village, about 20 kilometres from Olsztyn. It is known primarily from the place of Our Lady's apparitions in 1877 and the many Marian shrine attended by pilgrims. Revelations in Gietrzwald were the only ones recognized by the Vatican in Poland.