Neighbors vs. youth

No fun at the funcourt: moped noise instead of sport

Uproar at the Funcourt in Gföhl: angry residents - with SPÖ politicians local councillor Heidi Gießrigl and councillor Günter Steindl(Bild: SPÖ)

The Waldviertel municipality of Gföhl is in a triple whammy: trouble at the leisure park led to trouble among residents and local politicians. The situation heated up and escalated. Now young people are shying away from the site. 

The SPÖ in Gföhl is calling for a crisis summit with residents, young people, police, local councillors and the mayor after the situation at the Funcourt escalated. This is where the municipality's central leisure facility is located - next to the secondary school and sports facility - and was well received by young people until recently. Following complaints from local residents, talks were held in 2023 and the opening hours of the court were shortened.

Accusations against ÖVP city leadership
This year, however, the barrel suddenly overflowed. SPÖ city councillor Günter Steindl described complaints from residents about mopeds honking and driving in circles until 11 pm. Steindl is harsh on the mayor Ludmilla Etzenberger and the ÖVP: "The situation has escalated in recent weeks because the municipal leadership failed to hold a joint discussion a long time ago."

Mayor defends young people
Etzenberger sees things differently. The situation has only escalated in recent weeks because of the mopeds. "There may have been a few minor transgressions - but it's more about being active for a quarter of an hour longer." She emphasizes that she has a good relationship with the "decent youth" and calls for more tolerance from local residents: "We were all young once!" At least there is still a meeting place for young people in public spaces here - sociable, sporty and without drugs.

"But the young people are very disappointed at how disrespectfully the adults have treated them. Now they don't come anymore." She believes there is no point in talking at the moment, the situation is far too heated. She wants to talk about it later in peace.