Pelplin Promotes Environmental Protection

- Once again, in democratic election, Pelplin community has chosen you to decide about their fate, what obligations does it involve?
- For the third time, I am honored and obliged to serve as the mayor. It pleases and at the same time obliges me to work even harder and more efficiently on behalf of local community. This is a huge responsibility, because with limited municipal revenue and over a short period of time we need to use external funds, especially funding coming from the European Union. We must improve the quality of local residents' life and at the same time accelerate municipality's development in several fields. I need to motivate local residents to work on behalf of the development of individual circles in the town and in rural areas. Only local authorities' cooperation with the local community can bring about the required change.

- What are the priorities for this term of office?
- As I have mentioned before, the deadline is tight and residents' expectations are high. However, it is impossible to do all the things at one time. Therefore we had to set priorities, which we included in Local Development Plan and Long-term Investment Plan. One of the most important tasks is the protection of natural environment. We intend to continue investments in the construction and expansion of sanitary sewage network.
Another major task to be continued in this term is the modernization of municipal roads. One of more demanding tasks is housing construction, where we need to assume cooperation with construction companies, developers and housing cooperatives within public-private partnerships. We plan that several dozens apartments will be built in this term of office.

- What place does the expansion of transportation infrastructure take in strategic development plans of the Town and Municipality?
- It is one of the most important tasks. The condition of local roads, with the exception of no. 1 national road, is terrible. As part of local government agreements, investments related with the modernization and construction of roads will be implemented. The 4km long Pelplin beltway with two bridges is the most important task, which is to be implemented in 2008 at the latest. This will result in improved access to A-1 motorway from no. 1 national road, passing over the Town of Pelplin.
The improvement of transportation in the municipality has been submitted to Regional Operational Program, which encompasses joint tasks of the Tczew County and municipality. The Program provides for the construction of 10km of municipal roads with hardened surface until the end of this term of office.
- How important is the acquisition of EU funds to further development of Pelplin and how do you intend to win them?
- The implementation of all investment tasks, including these resulting from Long-term Investment Plan and Local Development Plan will not be possible without the use of external funds, including these coming from the European Union. Both this and previous year is the time for preparing projects that entitle us to apply for funds earmarked for the implementation of major developmental plans in the municipality. Four years is a very brief period, as far as the development and investment processes are concerned. However, I am convinced that in four years' time Pelplin will be a center with well-developed technical and tourism infrastructure with a rich cultural offer.
- What kind of center should Pelplin be in four years' time?
- Access to A-1 motorway via the Pelplin hub should result in the establishment of companies offering new jobs and stimulating economic development. The implementation of investments in housing construction will contribute to the improvement of living conditions and will certainly boost the attractiveness of Pelplin.

Danuta Marcinkowska