Residents and Authorities Clash Over Parking and Noise at Garda’s Val di Gazo

Fight against illegal parking. The residents of Val di Gazo, located behind the Hollywood nightclub, have been at loggerheads for years. Similarly minded are the owners of the numerous little houses, mostly summer tourists, in the Bellavista village.

In addition to the endless and cyclical battle against the noise levels from the entertainment venue, the citizens strongly demand respect for the signage along the road that runs from the intersection with via Montavoletta up to Ca’ Brusà. This private road for public use was recently paved by the Municipality after persistent efforts from the Val di Gazo Volunteer Committee, which includes seventy families.

Residents who contributed, though not entirely, about fifty percent of the expenses incurred by the Municipality (60 million lire) to properly repair the busy street.

«After a long negotiation with the Administration that began over five years ago, we managed to repair the road, making it accessible and decent», states Giorgio Palazzi, a fifty-eight-year-old resident at civic number 29, on behalf of the committee.

«But that’s not all. We also arranged for a conduit to be installed before paving to enable lighting along the entire street, which is currently only half-lit. Our success in achieving all this is due to the sense of responsibility of 38 families who paid a share of 900,000 lire».

Parking problems during summer and lack of intervention by law enforcement

With the road issue resolved, the remaining problem is illegal parking. «During the summer, the large number of users of the nearby nightclub causes significant inconvenience and disturbances», snaps Stefano Cotrozzi, twenty-nine, owner of a small house at via Vissinel n. 1.

«We are prisoners of cars parked everywhere, to the point that it often becomes impossible to return home».

«And to think that along the road, parking prohibition signs with notices of removal are clearly visible. Unfortunately, though, the police never come here», intervenes Vincenzo Mariotti, a resident in via Fanino 3.

«They’re afraid», claims Stefania Loro of via Vissinel. «Once they told us that they cannot handle the chaos created at night in the area by themselves».

«Unfortunately, under the pretext that this is a private road for public use, no one moves», resumes Cotrozzi. «The traffic police responded to me that they cannot intervene, same refrain from the carabinieri and fire brigade.

Meanwhile, we continue to suffer the rudeness and incivility of many young people, who, disregarding residents’ rights, park wherever they want, throw beer bottles, and litter the gardens of our houses.»

«I work in Vicenza and come to Garda on weekends to rest. No wonder my parents prefer to stay in the city».

Proposals and solutions to the problem

«A simple way to solve the underlying problem would be», concludes Palazzi. «Enforce the signs and arrange for the removal of illegally parked cars.

But as we already said, unfortunately, the municipal police never come here».