Grand Council AG Plan to expand commercial operations at Lenzburg prison rejected
The project for the expansion of commercial operations at the Aargau correctional facility (JVA) in Lenzburg must be relaunched. The Grand Council has rejected the Government Council's proposal. It now has to go back to the drawing board. According to parliament, the costs of 11.8 million francs are too high.
02.07.2024, 15:25
SDA
The Grand Council rejected the proposal on Tuesday by 106 votes to 23. The cantonal government had previously conceded.
Something had to be done about the yogurt factory and bakery, a spokesperson for the center stated. However, the costs were too high. The project should therefore be rejected, as proposed by two preliminary committees.
The SVP, FDP and GLP were also in favor of revising the project. They said that the ten additional jobs were disproportionate to the investment. The SP stated that it was "with a heavy heart" that it was in favor of the rejection.
The Greens and EVP were in favor of the proposal. There was an urgent need for action. A new project would not be cheaper, the EPP pointed out.
The Greens were disappointed that the government council had agreed to revise the project. They had hoped for "a little more fighting spirit". The store was already dilapidated. The project was sensible.
Government council gives in
The responsible councillor Dieter Egli (SP) said that the same standards could not be applied to the commercial operation of the prison as in the private sector. The costs are higher. However, the sale of the products contributed to the costs.
Egli conceded that the investment costs were indeed high. Production had to take place within the prison walls and delivery was also special. All of this makes construction expensive.
"We have clearly heard the doubts," said Egli. The investment for the store in particular was probably too high. "We are making a new proposal - without expanding the store." The possible sales channels for the products would now have to be examined. "But we can't do magic."
The government council's project envisaged a new building for yogurt production and the bakery. According to the government council, the yogurt and bakery rooms in the basement of the prison, which has been in existence since 1864, no longer meet the requirements for food production.
A new building was therefore to be constructed within the prison walls at a cost of CHF 7.5 million. The government council also proposed an extension to the store for 3.25 million francs.
