Round about Lahr News and views from Lahr newspapers, summarized by Trisha Cornforth Lahr automobile dealers would like WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess area The former Canadian Forces Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess area, opposite Lahr airfield main gate, has been totally fenced off and neglected since summer 1994. Three local automobile dealers would be extremely interested in establishing their businesses there, but are prevented from doing so because there is no proper construction plan for that location. The matter was discussed at a recent meeting of Lahr’s city council who was unwilling to grant building permission, partly because the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess building is regarded as a “building worth keeping”. Lahr Airfield to be used as part replacement for Strasbourg Strasbourg Airport has to be closed down for at least a month this summer to carry out much-needed runway maintenance/repairs. In order to keep air services running to and from the “European Capital”, passenger and freight flights will be diverted to other airports including Lahr. Lahr airfield will be able to accept international flights because it still has a customs post there, though it is still restricted due to of the plane tonnage limit, as well as a ban on landing and taking off at night. Particularly the nearby community of Friesenheim opposes any loosening of restrictions and has prevented an important marker beacon from being set up on its territory. Financial scandal in connection with Baden Airport Baden Airpark has been endangered because of illegal business, false accounting and tax evasion by a closely related company. The amount concerned is estimated at hundreds of millions of German marks. Police have arrested the two chief executives and partners in the Flow Tex Technology Company which lays underground pipes world-wide. It is, however related to the Flow Tex company involved in the Baden Airpark Company whose chief executive, Jürgen Morlok has declared that Baden Airport is still running normally with regular flights, but expansion plans have been dropped for the time being. Rumours have also recently linked Baden Airport with money laundering and drug smuggling connections with South America.