City applies for new environmental permit for controversial turning loop: “Hope that plans will be scrapped after the elections” (Deurne)

The city council will apply for a new environmental permit in May for the controversial turning loop and redevelopment of the Boekenberglei, Drakenhoflaan and Gitsauslei in Deurne and Borgerhout, near the Te Boelaarpark. The second in the meantime, after the city itself had withdrawn the first environmental permit granted. In December it came to light that of the 3,500 objections submitted, a thousand had not been included in the assessment of the permit application.

READ ALSO. City withdraws permit for controversial turning loop: procedure must start all over again

For a while, local residents and the Het Juiste Spoor action committee still hoped that the massive protest would persuade the city council to reconsider the plans. Vain hope, as it turns out, because the new, final design does not meet the concerns of the neighborhood.

Het Juiste Spoor fears that the project will have nothing but disadvantages for the neighborhood. The action committee fears, among other things, more dangerous intersections, finds it incomprehensible that 62 trees have to be cut down and finds 6 million euros “for a project that no one wants” indefensible.

READ ALSO. Groen and PVDA respond to the final design of the turning loop: “What a misunderstanding of the opinion of many residents of Deurne and Borgerhout”

Objections again

The fact that the city will apply for a new environmental permit in the coming weeks has reignited the protest. The public inquiry is expected to start at the end of June. The final decision date is in November, with the aim of carrying out the works in early 2025.

“And of course we will again submit massive objections,” says Lode Daelemans of Het Juiste Spoor. “This keeps the whole neighborhood busy. There is great concern and yet the city continues to push this project. We hope that the whole turning loop thing will be overhauled after the elections.”

“We also know that the footpaths and cycle paths are in poor condition. But the construction of the tram tracks threatens the beautiful trees on the Boekenberglei. 64 trees will disappear. The tram creates even more dangerous situations at intersections.”

Luc Moerkerke

Green

Opposition parties Groen and PVDA in Deurne and Borgerhout are also not happy with the plans. “We are not against redevelopment,” says Luc Moerkerke (Groen) Borgerhouts district councilor of Public Domain. “We also know that the footpaths and cycle paths are in poor condition. But the construction of the tram tracks threatens the beautiful trees on the Boekenberglei. 64 trees will disappear. The tram creates even more dangerous situations at intersections. It is now already dangerous at the intersection of Gitsauslei and Cruyslei. There will be another dangerous intersection at Drakenhoflaan and Boekenberglei. The extra tram tracks are an expensive investment (6.2 million euros, ed.) which does not provide additional public transport. And the reconstruction of the Gitsauslei means that the popular Wednesday market will have to move permanently.”

In Boelaarpark

“64 square meters of the Te Boelaarpark will also disappear to provide space for cyclists and pedestrians,” says Moerkerke. “The park is a forest area, we won’t just let that happen. Fortunately, the end of the legislature is in sight. If it were up to us, the turning loop would be deleted and we would start from scratch. The neighborhood deserves a sustainable redevelopment, with the preservation of all trees, wide sidewalks and cycle paths and safe crossings. It is truly incomprehensible that the city is stubbornly continuing with this project.”

“I really have vicarious shame,” says Deurn’s district councilor Manal Toumi (PVDA). “It is scandalous that the city is pushing ahead with blinders on. Participation will undoubtedly become an important election theme, because this project is not an isolated case.”