City terraces with pergola for Neubeckum's centre - 600 people vote

There was a great deal of interest: almost 600 people took part in the vote in July and, with an overwhelming majority of 74 per cent, chose the model from French manufacturer Atech, which was one of two that made it into the voting.

The city of Beckum and the city centre management team are delighted that so many people took part. "We also have our local stakeholders to thank for this, who discussed the topic intensively with their customers and those who had concerns," say Serena Große-Kreul and Annika Siebert from the city centre management team.

The process was something special right from the start and not an ordinary allocation. Immediately after last year's experiment, in which Stadt-Terrassen stood on loan for a few months in car parks in Neubeckum's main street, it was clear that the furniture was well received and that the company would be purchasing its own to create a better quality of stay in the shopping area.

Neubeckum was to decide which ones it should be. It was a good thing that there was already a committee representing the stakeholders in the shopping centre in the form of the Disposal Fund Advisory Board: It brings together representatives of the retail trade, property owners and neighbours, the arts, culture and social issues as well as the city administration. The advisory board members also promptly agreed to act as a jury and make a pre-selection.

Eight companies responded to the city's competition and four were invited to submit bids. The bids were scrutinised, discussed and evaluated by the advisory board according to previously defined criteria. Two models finally made it into the district decision, in which visitors, residents and the tradespeople themselves took part. Notices in the shops advertised the vote and many discussions were held there on the subject of terraces versus car parks. The city centre management team itself surveyed around 100 people at the weekly market. The vast majority are looking forward to a better quality of life in the main street. "There is a lack of seating options here that are not dependent on food," said one market visitor, whose opinion was shared by many respondents.

Now a colour had to be chosen. The advisory board decided in favour of a warm shade of green: "It fits well. Not too bright, but colourful." The new terrace locations have also already been chosen: in front of Treff in No. 5 and the San Marco ice cream parlour. Both have already agreed to keep an eye on the terraces. They are to be set up in spring 2026 and inaugurated for the Aktivfest. Because the festival fits in well with the terraces as a genuine community project.

If you would like to view the vote in detail, you can find it at www.beckum.de/stadt-terrassen/. And anyone who has ideas for the design of Neubeckum is always welcome to contact the city centre management team. There are still funds available in the town centre development fund! Up to half of the projects can be subsidised (up to 6,000 euros). The advisory board decides.

Contact:
The city centre management team is always on site on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the district living room in Hauptstraße. Please call in advance on 02525 939897-2/-3 or email: neubeckum@stadtraumkonzept.de.