Residents of the Left Bank do not like the tent mosque on the City Pirates site: “And now the ground here is also contaminated with PFAS” (Left Bank)

“We think the City Pirates are a wonderful initiative and we have good contact. There was sometimes loud music and they sometimes drove late on the grass, but calls to prayer and large football lights in the middle of the night: that raises questions,” said the anonymous residents of Charles de Costerlaan on Linkeroever. They are not pleased with the establishment of the non-profit organization Al Umma on the City Pirates grounds.

The non-profit organization has been active on the Left Bank for a long time and is committed to, among other things, young people. He organizes a lot: from religious activities such as iftar to a litter campaign.

“The link between religion and football is wrong, we coexist. Everyone is welcome with us, regardless of religion”

Michiel De Visschere

General Manager City Pirates

Since 2018, the non-profit organization has been looking for new accommodation together with the city. The members received a tent that would be replaced by temporary containers and eventually permanent buildings would be installed. To maintain peace, a reasonably remote zone was sought. The City Pirates site seemed ideal.

“With the City Pirates we stand for connection in society, so we will always help,” says general manager Michiel De Visschere. “We didn’t hesitate for a second when the city asked to place a tent.”

Communication

But the neighborhood wasn’t very keen on that tent. She feels lied to because the tent originally seemed to be there for general activities: from homework help to a waffle bake. “But in the end it turns out to be just a mosque.”

The first complaints trickled in at the end of February. At the city council on Monday, April 29, Sam van Rooy (Vlaams Belang) and Martine Vrints (N-VA) raised the concerns. The unexpected religious interpretation of the tent seems to be the main concern.

“We received a letter from OVAM stating that our soil is contaminated with PFAS. In the meantime, the first layer of concrete for the temporary containers is already lying next to the tent. We only dig a spade in our own garden and could be fined. But the field where those young people roll around is also polluted.”

Residents

Charles de Costerlaan

“The link between religion and football is wrong, we coexist. Everyone is welcome with us, regardless of religion,” says De Visschere.

After two neighborhood meetings, the City Pirates started working on the concerns of local residents.

“When the tent was placed on the corner of the field, we indeed did not communicate with the local residents. That is wrong and it is a shame that we started off on bad terms. Because after the first complaints, we immediately looked for solutions. We moved the tent so that it was further away from the habitation.”

Tatjana Scheck also admits that the communication started off on a bad note. But the neighborhood remains very skeptical.

“The pot stinks and even at the neighborhood meeting of April 2 we received no clear answers, not even from Alderman Scheck who was present at the time,” said the residents.

Pollution

When things seemed to calm down, local residents suddenly received a letter from OVAM in their mailbox two weeks ago. “It stated that our soil has historically been contaminated with PFAS. In the meantime, the first layer of concrete for the temporary containers is already lying next to the tent. We only dig a spade in our own garden and could be fined. But the field where those young people roll around is also polluted. And they just start construction there without a building permit.”

The owners of the sites will have to pay for the pollution, but residents wonder who is actually responsible.

“The city bought several sites on the Left Bank last year, including these sites. The purchase has not yet been completed, so for the time being they are still from the Vlaamse Waterweg,” explains Tatjana Scheck. “During the city council I was out of the loop, I didn’t receive any information about the pollution yet. So I’m going to first inform myself properly.”

“During the municipal meeting I was shocked, I did not receive any information about PFAS pollution. So I’m going to inform myself first.”

Tatjana Scheck (Forward)

Alderman for Social Affairs

The residents regret how everything is going. “The Charles de Costerlaan has been car-free since June. We were promised a beautiful green area. Yet there is now unprecedented activity here and the street is turning into a large parking lot. The file is already hanging together by hooks and eyes. That pollution now acts as a red rag on the entire situation,” say the residents.