Machelen does not contest Brussels Airport’s new permit: “Many of our residents work at the airport”

Machelen, together with Wemmel, Meise, Grimbergen and Vilvoorde, has been litigating against the federal government for some time regarding the inadequate distribution of night flights. There have already been several legal rulings that have resulted in the state having to cough up millions of euros in penalty payments. In the meantime, there is now a new permit for the airport. Initially, the five Northern Rand municipalities made strong reservations. But Machelen wants to separate the new permit from the distribution file.

“We, together with the four others, submitted an objection during the public inquiry for that new permit. But mainly because we are the only municipality that is directly connected to the airport and experiences inconvenience,” explains Machel’s Alderman for Mobility Steve Claeys. “There is now advice from the lawyers to go to the Council for Permit Disputes and have it annulled. As a municipality we are not going to go along with that. We have already given our advice in that objection. I think that many Machelen residents also work at the airport and of course we do not want to jeopardize that.”

Machelen emphasizes that it is not leaving the ‘coalition’ with the other Northern Rand municipalities. “We want to continue to work together for a fair distribution, because Brussels is being spared, just like a large part of Walloon Brabant, and all air traffic comes over the northern edge. We want to continue to fight against that,” says Claeys. Other municipalities will remain calm for the time being. “We are still examining the file and will make a decision early next week,” Vilvoord mayor Hans Bonte said.