Gladbeck is planning a new street name: Alanya roundabout or Alanya way?

Gladbeck is planning a new street name: Alanya roundabout or Alanya way?

The city of Gladbeck is focusing on its long-standing town partnership with Alanya and is submitting an application for a new street name. The “Social Alliance” faction (BIG and DKP) then submitted a proposal to the town hall to name a street after the Turkish city. This is a further step towards strengthening international relations and cultural exchange, which have been visible in Gladbeck for many years through the naming of several streets.

Existing streets named after international twin cities include Marcq-en-Baroeul-Strasse in France and Schwechater Strasse in Austria. Volkan Akçay, as a knowledgeable citizen, emphasizes that these namings are essential for the appreciation and international connection of the city of Gladbeck. The partnership with Alanya has existed since 1993 and has so far received little attention in the cityscape.

Street naming suggestions

One proposal in the application envisages the designation “Alanya Roundabout” as part of the reconstruction of the highway, with a stylized Alanya Castle as a symbol in the center. Alternatively, the “Alanya-Weg” could serve as a new name for the route up to the Mottbruchhalde. These ideas have generated interest, but are associated with legal and organizational hurdles that must be taken into account when implementing them.

The application will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Main and Finance Committee. The project will be examined in coordination with the Ruhr Regional Association (RVR).

Activities under the banner of town twinning

The twinning with Alanya is promoted by active citizens in the Alanya Friends Circle, which helps to deepen the connections between the cities. A particular focus is on the exchange of school and medical groups as well as trips that intensify contact between the countries. The Heisenberg-Gymnasium in Gladbeck, for example, maintains contacts with the Latymer School in Enfield, which takes the traditions of student exchange into account.

A meeting of actors from the Gladbeck town twinning took place on June 30, 2023 in the town hall. The aim of this meeting was to bring private individuals, clubs, schools and organizations together and to promote exchange. The participants agreed that such regular meetings should be continued in the long term. The Marcq-en-Baroeul Circle of Friends organizes monthly meetings to promote culture and language.

The town partnerships in Gladbeck are diverse. In addition to Alanya, the city also has connections to cities such as Marcq-en-Baroeul, Schwechat, Enfield, Fushun and Wodzislaw. At the meetings, youth councilor Ole Steiner expressed his interest in continuing and intensifying these friendships. In addition, the active members of the circle of friends are looking for other comrades-in-arms in order to expand international relations. Those interested can contact Eva Klein.

Those addressed are confident that the application and the associated discussion about naming a street for Alanya in Gladbeck will create a valuable connection and visibility of a long-standing friendship.

For more information you can see the articles on Local compass and New Gladbeck newspaper be read.