Upahl fails against planning permission for asylum accommodation
The municipality of Upahl (Nordwestmecklenburg) has failed in its appeal to the Greifswald Higher Administrative Court against the planning permission for the controversial container accommodation for asylum seekers. The Schwerin Administrative Court had previously rejected the municipality's urgent appeal. Now, the OVG has also rejected the appeal, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. The building permit had been granted on the basis of a deviation decision by the Ministry of Construction in Schwerin, it said.
The first asylum seekers moved in a few weeks ago after months of protests by the local population against the construction of the refugee accommodation. The small village in the west of Mecklenburg had hit the headlines nationwide because large sections of the population massively opposed the construction of the refugee accommodation on the outskirts of the village of 500 inhabitants. The district council had approved the project against the wishes of the local council. Originally, 400 asylum seekers were to be housed there for a limited period of one year. After constant protests, the number was reduced to a maximum of 250 places.
Despite the opposition from the local community, several refugee evacuees have begun residing in the controversial container accommodation in Upahl. Regardless of the municipality's unsuccessful appeals against the planning permission, municipalities across the region continue to grapple with managing migration and providing facilities for refugee populations.
Source: www.dpa.com
