Before an important event

Roma group blocked parking lot in front of trotting track

Almost half of the parking lot was simply converted into a camping area by the caravan.(Bild: zVg)

At the last moment, a Roma caravan in the parking lot of the Baden harness racing track was persuaded to move on. "A big event was planned for the following day," said racecourse boss Horst Neumann to the "Krone". Intervention by the local authority led to the group pulling out - but only after an alternative meadow was offered ...

A French teacher was brought in to negotiate with the group, who managed the talks without incident. "I'm satisfied," Neumann told Krone. "Because almost half of the parking space - which was already very limited - was blocked by the campers."

Almost half of the parking lot was simply converted into a camping area by the Wagenburg.(Bild: zVg)

FPÖ Baden reacted with harsh words
However, Baden's FPÖ municipal councillor Peter Doppler and Leon Stelzer, youth chairman of the FPÖ Baden, reacted with annoyance: "So now Baden also has a Roma problem. The illegal seizure of land by itinerant Roma and Sinti has now also reached Baden. Anyone who behaves like this has forfeited our right to hospitality," say the politicians.

However, the caravan only went a little further: a meadow in front of a soccer pitch was made available to the itinerant people.