When applying for its new environmental permit, the airport operating company LEM requests some urban development corrections. Borsbeek approves only one of the two requested revisions on its territory.
Out of good neighborliness, the municipality of Borsbeek sees no problem in abolishing Chemin footpath number 3. “This footpath was partly on Borsbeek territory. It ran from the Langbaan towards the Vosstraat in Deurne. Due to the demarcation of the airport grounds, this road has disappeared since 1948. The file is hanging together with hooks and eyes, but we are not going to make a fuss about this,” says Mayor Dis Van Berckelaer (Alleen Borsbeek).
The municipality is missing out on a significant amount. “For the land price, we would normally have received approximately 540,000 euros if the road on our territory were to be removed. But a Flemish decree states that this no longer applies to roads that have not been in use for more than thirty years.”
Against the building permit
Borsbeek takes a less flexible position in the Vliegveldweg file. Until 2014, this road formed the connection between the Frans Beirenslaan (R11) and Fort 3. “During the construction of the tunnel to allow the R11 to pass under the runway, the airport took the Vliegveldweg against the regulations of the building permit. .”
The original Airport Road disappeared and the old route is now largely behind the fence of the demarcated airport site. The Vliegveldweg is now an extension of the new turning loop that runs over the tunnel.
The SAVE sign in memory of Helena Welvis, who was hit by a car, had to move from the R11 to Fort 3 due to the construction of the tunnel. — © Filip Spoelders
“But just as Borsbeek citizens must adhere to the rules for installing garden houses, the airport must also adhere to urban development regulations. It was a mistake to move the Vliegveldweg. By requesting regularization, it confirms that it has not complied with the rules. There is a legal procedure underway, so we certainly cannot agree to the deletion of the old Vliegveldweg.”
Due to the relocation of the road, the old street sign is more in a meadow than along the street and the SAVE sign for Helena Welvis, who died in an accident in 2003, had to be moved three times.
Objections during public inquiry
During the public inquiry for the environmental application for Antwerp Airport, 5,223 digital, 560 analogue objections and one petition were ultimately received from the various cities and municipalities in the area. Of these objections or comments, 221 came from Borsbeek.
){kind=link}