Toruń. Priests put up a fence, residents protest. The case is being investigated by the prosecutor's office

The case concerns a fence erected by the Salesians around the school, which is adjacent to the Wrzosowisko natural park in the northern part of Toruń. In 1998, the city gave this area to the Salesians for perpetual usufruct with a large discount. Already then, it determined its main purpose for educational, upbringing and recreational purposes.

As the director of the primary school of the Salesian Society in Toruń explains in an interview with tvn24.pl, the fence was built for several reasons.

– By law, every school must be fenced and safe. Ours is expanding, so a larger fence is necessary. In addition, every owner has the right to fence his or her property. We also want to take more into account the values ​​of the area for children, school youth and local residents. In addition, we have fenced the area to stop drinking and throwing garbage there. We want to make this place safe, beautiful and friendly for everyone – admits the director.

The new place on the map of Toruń will have its own name. It will be “Don Bosco Green”, which is – as the director mentioned earlier, a space for recreation.

– We are thinking about creating educational trails, nature trails and ecological paths there. We intend to plant native trees, trees and shrubs. Together with the students, we will plant fruit trees. There will also be wooden benches for rest and a wooden playground, the priest emphasizes.

The director of the facility explains that the school has grown significantly in recent years, which is why it needs more space for students, but also for others. – The area that will be developed will be used every day by over 500 school children, 55 employees, parents and residents – the priest enumerates and adds. – Thanks to the school and the fence, it is certain that the area will be green and cheerful, and that no developer will come in a few years and build a housing estate, because we also hear such opinions.

The key axis of the dispute between the school management and the residents is the issue of nature. According to social activists, erecting the fence led to the natural degradation of the area and destruction of nature. These are plant species that are protected.

– There are several reasons why the second, additional fence of the Salesian school area evokes such emotions. The first reason is the denial of the natural values ​​of this place. The school management had full information about the habitats of protected plants, animals and insects occurring there. It received the latest versions of nature and landscape expertise prepared by authorities in this field. Despite this, it decided on a method of fencing that would destroy the nature of this area (destruction of the habitats of sand sedge and Loar sedge). In response to comments from residents, community activists and journalists, she publicly claimed that there were no protected plants there. This is outrageous. Another reason is the violation of certain good neighborly customs. Good neighbors who want to build a fence usually inform their neighbors about it and try, if possible, to avoid solutions that would make their neighbors' lives miserable. This means, for example, blocking paths, making it difficult to pass nearby, forcing overnight changes in habits that have been developing for 30 years – says Regina Strzemeska, a resident of Wrzosy.

Another resident speaks in a similar tone. According to Mr. Łukasz, plans to build a full-size pitch for commercial purposes raise serious concerns. Why?

– The fencing of the additional external school area, which was used by both children and residents of Wrzosy, causes understandable concern among parents and residents. In Krakow, the pitch managed by the Salesians was intended mainly for rent. What is particularly disturbing is the fact that the Salesian school benefits from a large discount for renting land from the city, while other schools in Toruń do not have similar preferential conditions – says Łukasz Ruszkowski.

In his opinion, “the funds obtained thanks to such discounts could be used to improve educational conditions for children in many schools, for example by modernizing classrooms or investing in infrastructure, and not only for the implementation of commercial projects in one privileged institution.”

– I am convinced that school grounds should primarily serve students and the local community. It is crucial that all activities are based on cooperation, which allows for the development of solutions that meet the needs of residents and children – emphasizes the resident.

The school principal does not agree with the residents' allegations. The director denies that protected species have been destroyed. – This is not possible because the city development plan for this area, which we received in 2023, does not include any protected species – says the Salesian.

At the same time, he is surprised by the hypocrisy of some residents who, in September, organized a picnic right next to the fence called “Wrzosowisko”. In addition to all this – as the priest admits – there had been other acts of devastation of nature before. – The area was trampled and run over by motorbikes – notes the school principal.

He emphasizes that his school has been the target of attacks in recent weeks. The case was reported to the police. – This is about committing a crime of destroying school property or inciting religious hatred. Posters with the words “F**** clergy” were hung on the fence near the school. In addition, there is harassment of employees during the construction of the fence, hate, bullying and lies in the media – enumerates the director.

As the priest notes, “the new fence was destroyed as a result of hate in the media.” – The case has been reported to the prosecutor's office – adds the priest. In addition to all this – as the director says – there is recording and taking photos of sixth-grade girls during physical education classes by one of the community activists. – He did it without their consent and the consent of their parents. The case was reported to the police, the priest emphasizes.

– As a school, we systematically support two family orphanages in Wrzosy, and we support the “Nadzieja” hospice in Toruń. We have very good and friendly relations with the vast majority of Wrzosy's inhabitants, the priest assures. – Every weekend, children, teenagers and parents of nearby housing estates who are not associated with the school use the fields, playgrounds and school infrastructure. Always free – emphasizes the Salesian.

The Wrzosy District Council commented on the issue of photos and recordings. Representatives of the residents of this part of Toruń are primarily interested in maintaining good relations.

“People who habitually photographed landscapes and plants for artistic purposes were publicly accused of posing a threat to school students. There were alarmist statements from school representatives and concerned parents. The District Council is not aware of any reliably documented events that could constitute a serious basis for to concerns about the safety of students of this school from the local community. The District Council would like to emphasize that its goal is to maintain good neighborly relations and strive for an agreement that will take into account the needs of both the local community and the school,” we read. in a statement.

As social activists from the Zielone Wrzosy association explain, the September event on Wrzosowisko was another integration event organized by them for residents in order to promote the natural values ​​of this place. “The assumptions of our association are to present the socio-historical-ecological values ​​of the meadows and forest of the Moor and its protection. The area is natural with numerous paths, commonly called forecourts, used by residents, also during events. We have been conducting a social inventory of the flora and fauna of the Moor for three years. in cooperation with specialists in particular fields. We know exactly where the habitats of protected plants are located and there is no question of trampling them,” they claim social activists. As they add, “information about plants protected in the area belonging to the Salesian school was provided to the management even before the fence was built.” “There is no question of ignorance regarding the destruction of protected vegetation sites (i.e. plowing, digging up areas of sand sedge)” – they emphasize.

The city hall got involved. In mid-September, the president received information from the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Bydgoszcz about the destruction of sand sedge and Loar sedge sites in the area between Jana Bosko Street and Ugory Street in Toruń. A day later, President Paweł Gulewski commissioned an inspection of the area by the Department of Environment and Ecology, the results of which confirmed the findings of inspectors from Bydgoszcz.

– The President decided to notify the Municipal Police Headquarters in Toruń about the possibility of committing a crime involving the destruction of protected plant species: Loar sedge and sand sedge – species under partial protection – explains Marcin Centkowski, press spokesman for the President of Toruń.

The school also asked for a nature expert opinion.

The investigation in this case is being conducted by the District Prosecutor's Office in Grudziądz for impartiality. – The District Prosecutor's Office in Grudziądz supervises the investigation initiated on October 11, 2024 into an offense under Art. 181 § 3 of the Penal Code regarding the destruction of plants under species protection, i.e. sand sedge and Loar sedge, on an unspecified date in the period from August 1, 2024 to September 17, 2024, in Toruń, on plot 745/8, district 32, causing a significant damage – confirms the deputy district prosecutor Magdalena Chodyna.

The investigation is being conducted by the Toruń police. It will be verified whether protected species plants have been destroyed or damaged, and if so, in what quantity, by whom and on whose order.

– At this stage of the proceedings, in addition to the planned activities of hearing as witnesses persons with knowledge about the circumstances of the event, obtaining documentation from the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Bydgoszcz and the City Hall in Toruń, the prosecutor is considering appointing an expert in the field of environmental protection. Further investigation activities will depend on the findings of the proceedings. The proceedings remain at a preliminary stage and are ongoing, the prosecutor emphasizes.

As he points out, the act under Art. 181 § 3 of the Penal Code is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years.