The project provides for more greenery and public spaces. In return, of the 191 parking spaces, 65 would be eliminated in the sector.
“There is an emergency, the population is divided”
Questioned in parliament, Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) confirmed her desire to move forward on the subject, notably highlighting articles from the 1990s already attesting to a mobilization of the neighborhood against excessive traffic. “The temporary development that is in place today has proven itself and has eliminated significant road safety problems at several intersections.“, assures the Minister of Current Affairs.
Closure of Avenue Broustin in Ganshoren and Jette: twelve times less traffic on the artery since the installation of the concrete blocks
This Wednesday, the consultation commission took place but did little to smooth things over, neither in Jette nor in Ganshoren, the two municipalities concerned. Ganshoren, where the Socialists are now part of the coalition with Les Engagés, says it wants more time to submit its opinion. “The layout itself is qualitative. But people criticize not having been consulted on the closure“, comments Chantal De Saeger (LE).
An argument pointed out on the benches of the Jettoise opposition by the deputy Leila Agic (PS), who calls for a survey of citizens to validate or not the closure of the avenue, as was the case in the Lecharlier district. “There is an emergency, the population is divided“, denounces the deputy, evoking the need for an extraordinary municipal council.
“Ganshoren’s unilateral decision”
“Since the beginning in this matter, we have reacted according to the unilateral decision of Ganshoren“, recalls Claire Vandevivere (LE). “When Ganshoren closed on its side, we found ourselves with more traffic. So we also had to close on our side. As long as Ganshoren does not reopen, we cannot do it”comments the mayor, reminding the PS MP that the socialists now participate in power in Ganshoren.
Remember that, if the municipalities must submit an opinion, it is Urban, the regional administration in charge of town planning, which will have to decide and grant the permit or not. If the permit is issued, the construction schedule will depend on other work in the neighborhood, such as currently on Avenue de Jette to renovate the tram tracks. “It is therefore quite difficult to give a precise schedule for the future”Minister Groen informed parliament.
