Her main criticism was against the kiosk, which also sells alcohol. Since then, the florist says the problems in the underpass have increased dramatically. The city has now terminated the lease with the operator of the city-owned kiosk. The kiosk operator said he had retained a lawyer.

An amended contract was issued at the same time as the termination notice, under which the shop can be used as a snack bar. However, under the new contract, the sale of any alcohol is banned. The lessee has retained a lawyer who issued a response that is now being assessed by the city’s legal department.

As reported, Lunge had complained that she and passersby had recently been harassed and molested several times by drunken men. Lunge had had enough and she turned to the civic committee. As a result, the city promised more stringent controls by Ordnungsamt (public order office) employees. The city rejected a suggestion by Lunge to issue a ban on alcohol consumption similar to the one in force in the area around the underpass in the Bonner Loch. However, the city did agree to do more to ensure the kiosk owner did not sell any alcohol for consumption on his premises, as he does not have a restaurant licence. However, this has apparently had little effect so far.

Lunge and the local city councillor, Henriette Reinsberg (CDU), who had also campaigned for a ban on the sale of alcohol there, seem pleased that there has been some movement in the dispute.

However, the dispute has had consequences for the florist. The kiosk will no longer serve her. For this reason, she has also stopped getting water in the morning for her flowers from the kiosk. She has no running water at her stand. “I don’t think he’ll give me the water anymore. I’m also not going to ask him, because I don’t want to be rebuffed,” says Lunge. She said residents were helping her out at the moment. They are all happy that the city now wants to do something about the conditions in the underpass.

“Recently two girls were standing here, who did not dare to go into the underpass because it was full of drunk men,” reports Lunge. It was only when some other passersby came that the children went on with them. “We are dealing with the water supply,” said Reinsberg. She has contacted Stadtwerke Bonn, who are looking for a solution. The kiosk operator was not prepared to talk to the General Anzeiger.

(Original text: Lisa Inhoffen. Translated by Kate Carey)