Residents of Balashikha had to appeal to the president to stop the rampant development of the city

They demand a construction moratorium for 50 years.

On the eve of the country’s presidential elections, residents of Balashikha near Moscow recorded a video message to Vladimir Putin. They are asking for a moratorium on development in their city for the next 50 years.

“Our city lacks the necessary social and transport infrastructure, children study in overcrowded schools, it takes us more than two hours to get to work, because all of Balashikha is stuck in traffic jams. And the reason for this collapse is the disproportionately dense housing development,” residents say in their appeal to the head of the country.

In their opinion, the regional authorities, under the guise of the need to renovate the emergency fund, are carrying out intensive construction. “In fact, only ten percent of apartments in new buildings are given to those who are evicted from dilapidated housing; the remaining 90 percent of apartments are sold,” the appeal says.

“We believe that a complete ban on housing construction in Balashikha is necessary for at least the next 50 years. In addition, it is necessary to check already issued construction permits for violations of the law and adjust the General Plan in accordance with urban planning standards,” the Balashikha residents suggest.

Earlier, MK already wrote that city residents opposed the construction of an alternate route to the Shchelkovskoye Highway, which was supposed to pass through three natural areas – the Gorensky and Ozerny forest parks, as well as the Pekhorka park. At the end of last week, the governor of the Moscow region assured residents that a backup would not be built; instead, a project to expand the Shchelkovskoe highway is now being prepared. However, people are in no hurry to celebrate the victory. Their joy is overshadowed by the fact that the Gorensky Forest never received the protective status of a particularly valuable natural area. “Due to dense residential development and constant traffic jams, we live as if in a gas chamber. For us, every living tree is a source of oxygen, but here an entire forest area is under threat of deforestation. Until our forest receives a protection order, we will not calm down,” say the Balashikha residents and demand an end to the total development of any free piece of land in the city.