Arts and Traditions - "Cologne's Volksbühne am Rudolfplatz" carries on with music events.
The theatre at Rudolfplatz in Cologne, previously known as Millowitsch Theatre, has won permission to continue hosting concerts. This decision was made by the North Rhine-Westphalia Administrative Court in Münster on Wednesday, reversing previous rulings. The city of Cologne and the trustee association's appeals were successful, and there was no review allowed. However, the plaintiffs can still file a complaint with the Federal Administrative Court (case number: u.a. 7 A 1268/22).
The complainant was a resident of the area, feeling their rights were breached and disrupted by the noise from the People's Theatre. They filed a lawsuit against the building permit granted by the city.
In 2015, the People's Theatre added concerts with amplified music to their lineup alongside regular theatrical performances.
The court found that the plaintiff had illegally occupied the building, which had been previously utilized for business (a printing press). The People's Theatre holds a legally binding building permit with operations allowed after 10:00 p.m. Consequently, the property in the vicinity is not suitable for residential usage. The new permit for extended operations with concerts until 10:00 p.m. is deemed safe by the Court's judgment. During the day, the noise protection guidelines would be met.
The operators of the People's Theatre correctly referenced the preservation of existing structures, as ruled by the OVG. In a separate instance, a neighbor also failed to win. There, the Münster court upheld the lower court's decision.
OVG press release.
