As Minister for the Environment and Agriculture, CDU politician Thomas Schmidt warned against writing off rural areas. As head of department for regional development, he also praises the province for its potential.
Dresden (dpa / sn) - Saxony's regional development minister Thomas Schmidt often wrongly sees rural areas in the wrong light. "The situation is portrayed more negatively than it is," said the CDU politician of the German Press Agency. Of course there are problems here too. The transport connections, for example, must be improved, as must the supply in some areas such as health care.
"On the other hand, rural areas and life in the countryside offer great opportunities that are no longer available in the large conurbations," said the minister. In the countryside there is still commercial space at reasonable prices. "You can also live there more cheaply. We talk far too little about the quality of life there. Schools and day-care centers are also in better condition here on average than in the cities."
"But you shouldn't be under any illusions. I have a place in my constituency with around 1,600 inhabitants and 24 districts. There will not be a doctor in every district in the future and a bus going there every hour," Schmidt clarified. The residents are aware of this. Individual mobility will always play a greater role in rural areas. That's why you have to take care of the junctions, such as park and ride options.
In any case, the focus is more on the importance of city-countryside relationships. In the past, this was often perceived as a contradiction in terms. "Now there is more insight that both belong together." The city and the surrounding area should cooperate with each other instead of competing. It is now a matter of reconciling requirements such as sufficient space for commercial and residential use, local public transport, the preservation of retail or cultural offerings.
According to Schmidt, the various rural regions of Saxony cannot be viewed in general terms. The situation in Vogtland and Upper Lusatia, for example, is very different. "That's why we made sure in the rural development programs that the decisions on how to use the funds are made locally. That's where they know best what is to be funded."
It is gratifying that many regions are still seeing an influx, said Schmidt. This does not only apply to young families. Many people over the age of 50 would also create their own home in the country or take over their parents' houses. "Quite a few communities no longer have enough building space. They're not worried that people will move away, but that they won't have space for new flatmates."
Nevertheless, the minister expects that the demographic development will bring with it a whole series of problems. Saxony has had a positive difference in the migration balance - the ratio of immigration and emigration - for years, and the forecasts about the population decline have not come true as originally assumed. "Nevertheless, we need more immigration and targeted immigration of skilled workers."
Schmidt assumes that rural areas have enormous potential. Many people would also like to move to the country in view of rising rents in the cities. As far as the construction of private homes is concerned, the current situation with considerable increases in construction prices, long waiting times for construction companies and craftsmen and rising interest rates for construction loans is acting as a brake.
