A new home for 20 asylum-seekers is to be located by the sportsground in Risch-Rotkreuz. Hanspeter Fähndrich, head of health and social affairs of the district, said that all parties had been informed about the project earlier this week and feels the area chosen is the most appropriate site.

 

Risch is actually being forced by the authorities to accommodate 40 asylum seekers under the cantonal distribution system. There have been no refugees there since the demolition of the asylum-seekers home in Holzhäusern in 2008, but now accommodation for 20 people is being planned there on land owned by the canton. The original design of the building has been made smaller after objections from the local residents, though no final decision has yet been made.

 

Some rooms will also be earmarked for a maximum of four people from Risch too, as the local authorities are also required to provide short-term emergency accommodation for them.

 

An application for a budget of CHF 1.25 m is to be made on 7 June. The accommodation itself will be leased to the canton, who is responsible for the smooth running of the home, with supervisory staff appointed by the Swiss Department of Internal Affairs. "We are aware that  there is a certain risk of conflct as there is a youth centre near the home," said mayor Dorothea Wattenhofer. "It 's better to have two smaller buildings rather than one large one. To have all asylum-seekers in Holzhäusern would be too much. Having some in Rotkreuz will mean making supervision easier, too."