Classic car meeting in Rüsselsheim: “Classic meeting” canceled due to nature conservation reasons

Nature conservation versus classic cars – a contradiction?

The “classic meeting” in Rüsselsheim was scheduled to begin just a few days after the cancellation was announced. As several media outlets, including the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) and the Frankfurter Rundschau (FR), report, the Upper Nature Conservation Authority of the Darmstadt Regional Council has banned the event. The reason for this are concerns about nature conservation.

The approval, the objection and a court decision

The city of Rüsselsheim, as the lower nature conservation authority, originally approved the event on the Main meadows on January 31st. However, this decision was overturned by the Higher Nature Conservation Authority following an urgent application from the Groß Gerau district association of the Federal Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND).

“Scandalous” or “no alternative”?

BUND described the city's decision to authorize the meeting as "scandalous." The city, however, argued that there was no alternative to the Mainwiesen as an event location because there was a corresponding pandemic safety concept there. Stefan Naas, cultural policy spokesman for the FDP in the Hessian state parliament, accused the Green government president Brigitte Lindscheid, who heads the higher nature conservation authority, of a lack of tact. The festival took place without any problems for years and was now banned at short notice.

The reactions of classic car fans

The cancellation was met with great incomprehension among classic car enthusiasts. Some participants complained that they had already canceled other dates in order to be able to take part in the classic meeting. If the decision of the Higher Nature Conservation Authority remains valid in the coming years, the city announced that it would develop a new security concept that does not require the Mainwiesen as an event location.

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fact	examination
The BUND described the city’s decision as “scandalous”.	Confirmed. The reports from FAZ, FR and other sources confirm the cancellation.
The cancellation was due to conservation concerns.	Confirmed. The Upper Nature Conservation Authority of the Darmstadt Regional Council canceled the event due to conservation concerns.
The city of Rüsselsheim originally approved the event.	Confirmed. The city of Rüsselsheim had approved the event on the Main meadows on January 31st, but the decision was overturned by the higher nature conservation authority.
Stefan Naas accused Brigitte Lindscheid of “tactfulness”.	Confirmed. The BUND had criticized the city's approval for the event.
The city argues that there is no alternative to the Mainwiesen as an event location.	Confirmed. According to the city, there is a suitable security concept for the Mainwiesen after the pandemic.
Stefan Naas accused Brigitte Lindscheid of lacking “tact”.	Confirmed. Stefan Naas, cultural policy spokesman for the Hessian state parliament FDP, expressed this criticism.
The city has announced that it will develop a new security concept.	Confirmed. If the decision of the Higher Nature Conservation Authority stands, the city is planning a new concept that does not require the Mainwiesen as an event location.

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Conclusion

The cancellation of the classic meeting in Rüsselsheim is not fiction, but reality. The discussion shows how difficult the balancing act can be between preserving our nature and holding popular events. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the next few years.

Sources:

• Frankfurter Rundschau
• BUND district association GG
• City of Rüsselsheim
• Darmstadt Administrative Court

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