Debrecen residents protest central square events

Debrecen residents are protesting events organized in the city's central square, reports nol.hu.

Residents of Hungary's second-largest city claim their lives become a nightmare every July and August when frequent and large-scale events are hosted in Kossuth Square. The volume of concerts and the noise of stage construction disturb those living near the square. They also are protesting firework displays in the square, which in the past apparently have damaged homes, the Debrecen Episcopal Palace, and the Great Church.

Ferencné Mészáros, representative of residents at Piac Street 1, said event organizers don't comply with the city's laws regulating events in the square. She mentioned a case when the police had to intervene at 11 p.m. to stop a show that was supposed to end at 10 p.m.

Zoltán Fauszt, clerk for the Debrecen government, said the city wants to balance its interest in increasing tourism and its residents' right to peace. He said the local government has taken proposals by the human rights commissioner into consideration, and will aim to divide events between Kossuth Square and Déri Square, and at Lake Békás.

Fauszt said he understands most of the complaints by residents, but said a few were unacceptable. The clerk said Debrecen cannot afford to stop events on the central square all together, and that nearby residents will have to live with at least some level of inconvenience caused by events on the central square.

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