Court bars closure of Forum 1 shopping centre bridge

A court has ruled that the bridge connecting the two parts of Salzburg’s Forum 1 shopping centre must remain open, ORF Salzburg reported. The insolvency administrator for Forum Salzburg Immobilien GmbH said the Spar subsidiary SES may block it only in an emergency.

The ruling is expected to end restrictions imposed over the past two weeks, which affected customers and shop operators in both buildings. Insolvency administrator Stephan Riel said he hoped it would also allow talks with SES to resume on resolving issues between the parties.

SES owns the newer part of the shopping centre, which opened with the bridge in 2011. It managed both buildings until the end of September. Riel ended the management contract on September 30, and an SES spokesperson said in early October that the bridge had been closed as a result.

The company that owns the older building is in restructuring proceedings, with liabilities of nearly 18 million euros. Riel said shops in that building remain fully open and that he is preparing to sell the company, including the building.