Association of Municipalities of the Podbrdsko Region (culture and regional regeneration)

Nature of the association

The association is established as a working and initiative group to support and coordinate efforts towards the regeneration and development of the region.

Core objectives

• to create conditions for cooperation within the Podbrdsko micro-region in the regeneration of the region
• to ensure a comprehensive mapping of problems and to identify the most effective ways of resolving them
• to promote the region and raise its profile in the public consciousness and amongst state institutions
• to foster the renewal and enrichment of social and spiritual life

History

The Association of Municipalities of the Podbrdsko Region emerged from the original Podbrdsko Region Association, which had been registered since 1994. However, its history began much earlier. The vast majority of mayors were new to the role following the first local elections in 1991 and had absolutely no experience in this line of work. They all felt the need to meet and exchange experiences regarding the day-to-day running of their municipalities, as well as in other areas such as legislation, construction and many others. At that time, this was the main reason for founding the association. They were seeking a common ground that would unite them all. The Litavka River and the Brdy Hills are the region’s main landmarks; hence the name ‘ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE PODBRDSKÝ REGION IN THE LITAVKA RIVER BASIN’, now the Association of Municipalities of the Podbrdský Region. It was entered in the register of associations of municipalities under registration number 66/2002/Pb by decision of the Regional Authority of the Central Bohemian Region, Department of Internal Affairs, on 10 December 2003.

The association has a total of 16 members – these include the municipalities of: Láz, Bohutín, Podlesí, Příbram, Lhota u Příbramě, Trhové Dušniky, Obecnice, Sádek, Bratkovice, Čenkov, Ohrazenice, Křešín, Vysoká u Příbrami, Drahlín, Jince and Felbabka.

Association bodies

Ing. Martin Matuna, deputy mayor of Bohutín, was elected chairman of the Association of Municipalities of the Podbrdský Region. The Association’s
manager and accountant is Ms Kristýna Zeisková
. Contact details

Implementation of specific programmes

• Joint solution for transport services – in 1994
• Joint solution for municipal waste collection in 1994. Collaboration with SCHEELE – a study visit by our representatives to the company’s headquarters in Germany and initial experience with waste separation in 1994
• Preparation of an urban planning study for the entire region in March 1996 – a report that mapped out the strengths and weaknesses of the entire area
• Gradual construction of a walking and cycling path, which forms part of the Prague–Vienna cycle route; the official opening took place in the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Martin Bursík, and Miss Czech Republic, Kateřina Stočesová, in 1998
• Organisation of the first Litavka Walk in May 1997
• publication of a joint calendar for 1998

Some specific future objectives of the association

• Preparing high-quality materials for the European Union’s SAPARD programmes (which will also give rise to further joint tasks, such as landscape restoration)
• a tourist guide to the villages
• Completion of the walking trail: signposting, footbridges, information boards, rest areas and the like
• organising regular joint events – for example, reviving the Litavka Walk, various festivals and so on
• promoting the region in terms of its tourist potential
• participation in the Regiontour tourism fair in Brno and the Holiday World fair in Prague