800 years of Beckum - Our town sticks together!

Dear people of Beckum!

A very special year comes to an end today. The 800th anniversary of the town was an outstanding highlight, which we celebrated together in an exuberant way. The numerous activities and projects in the anniversary year have impressively demonstrated how strong the cohesion in our town is and how committed and creative the people of Beckum are. A big thank you to everyone who helped to organise this unforgettable birthday with their contributions!

Especially in a time characterised by uncertainty and challenges, this community spirit gives us confidence. Even though the crises of recent years have limited the financial possibilities of local authorities, we in Beckum remain determined to actively and positively shape the future of our town. We are focussing all our efforts on the necessary further development of our home town.

At the top of the agenda is the modernisation and expansion of our school landscape. The Sonnenschule will be rebuilt by 2027, and the Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium, the Roncallischule, the Friedrich-von-Bodelschwingh-Schule, the Martinschule and the Kopernikus-Gymnasium in Neubeckum will also be modernised and expanded by 2030. The schoolyard of the Rosa-Parks comprehensive school will also be modernised.

Another important project is the construction of the new fire and rescue station in Beckum - an important step for the safety of our fellow citizens. The municipal library and the leisure centre in Neubeckum, including the senior citizens' section, are also being extensively renovated and converted to make them barrier-free. The Beckum-Wadersloh adult education centre will be given a new roof and a lift. We are also preparing the modernisation and content-related linking of the town museum with the neighbouring Markt 2 building. New development areas and central village squares are being created in Roland and Vellern. The Neubeckum outdoor pool and the Jahnstadion will also be thoroughly modernised. In the coming years, new daycare centres and municipal-owned flats will also be built, which will then be rented out at fair conditions.

We once again achieved a great deal in the year that is drawing to a close: one outstanding project was the opening of the new Neubeckum fire and rescue station in September - an energy-efficient new building that supports our emergency services with state-of-the-art technology. The church square in Beckum was completed and is now an attractive meeting place in the heart of the city. With Eichendorffstraße, the first cycle lane in Neubeckum, we have taken an important step in the expansion of cycle traffic. Development work has also started on the new Kirchfeld residential area in Vellern, which will be equipped with a cold local heating network.

When the new year begins next night, many of us will look back on the experiences of 2024 and make plans for 2025 at the same time. I look forward to meeting you, dear Beckum residents, at numerous events and opportunities in the new year. Together, we will continue to work to ensure that Beckum remains a vibrant, sustainable and endearing city. Special thanks go to all those who are committed to the common good!

For the year 2025, I wish you all good health, many wonderful moments, constructive cooperation and the continuation of our lived diversity!

Yours

Michael Gerdhenrich
Mayor