Because of the pandemic, it has recently been hardly possible to celebrate New Year's Eve with big parties and fireworks. It's different this year. The large municipalities in Hesse rely on controls - but also on appeals to do without.
Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - After two turns of the year with pandemic-related restrictions and a ban on firecrackers, the Hessian cities and communities are preparing for New Year's Eve almost as usual. The municipalities expect the streets to be full again - and urge responsible celebrations. However, the energy crisis is also making itself felt, as a survey by the German Press Agency among Hessian cities revealed. For example, the people of Wiesbaden have to do without the city fireworks in front of the Kurhaus, which has been cancelled.
According to the state capital, the fireworks are usually financed from ticket sales for the New Year's Eve party in the Kurhaus, which is also canceled. Against the background of the effects of the corona pandemic and in particular the energy crisis, there is currently no economically stable basis for holding the event, it said.
Anyone who wants to ignite rockets and other fireworks privately must observe the taboo zones: Firecrackers are generally not permitted in the immediate vicinity of churches, hospitals, old people's and children's homes and particularly fire-sensitive buildings such as half-timbered houses. In addition, the municipalities can regulate further bans.
Fireworks are not permitted on Frankfurt's famous Main Bridge, the Eiserner Steg, on New Year's Eve. "The aim is to protect the crowded people on the bridge from injury," the city said. The regulation applies from three hours before and until three hours after midnight and applies to rockets, firecrackers, cannon strikes and fireworks batteries, but also to Bengal torches or fire fountains. In addition, bags with a capacity of more than three liters are prohibited on the footbridge. Appropriate controls would be carried out on both sides, it said. If there are too many people, the bridge can also be temporarily closed.
For the central Hessian town of Marburg, the legal regulations mean that no banging is allowed in the entire upper town, which is characterized by half-timbered houses. A spokeswoman said that the city had informed about the ban zones on social media, among other things. The municipality expects that there will be a similar number of revelers in the streets of Marburg as in the years before Corona.
"City and law enforcement officers will carry out more checks again on New Year's Eve in the evening and at night," said the spokeswoman. However, since the emergency services would have to take on a variety of other tasks that night and could not be everywhere, the citizens' insight and reason is appealed to. "Overall, the city has had good experiences with this in recent years."
No restrictions on firecrackers are planned in Gießen, as the central Hessian municipality announced. The requirements for a ban are high and not met within the urban area.
In Kassel, it is generally permitted to set off fireworks in the city area - but there are a few exceptions. In addition to the basic protection zones, according to the North Hessian municipality, there is a ban on firecrackers near historic buildings for fire protection reasons. In order to protect the environment, it is also prohibited to set off fireworks in nature and landscape protection areas on areas of the Hessen Kassel Museum Landscape. These include the historical parks Karlsaue and the UNESCO World Heritage Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe.
The city appealed to its residents to refrain from private firecrackers - because of the negative effects on people, animals and the environment. According to a statement, attractive alternatives are being examined for the future. A similar request comes from Marburg with reference to safety and environmental and animal protection.
