Lommel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Inge Moors (CD&V) announced changes to the motocross center’s environmental permit, increasing riders from 20 to 30 while maintaining a 50-decibel noise limit and ensuring environmental protection.
The provincial government of Limburg announced changes to the motocross center’s environmental permit. One of the biggest changes in the new rules is how noise is measured. The old rules said the motocross center had to put a third noise measuring device in the forest and nature area south of the track.
According to the officials, the new rules don’t require this anymore. The province thinks this is a better solution because the motocross center can keep running without having to build more things that might affect the environment.
Inge Moors said these changes are a “win-win” because they help both the motocross center and the people who live nearby. The motocross center can keep running, but the environment will be protected.
Why has Lommel’s motocross center’s environmental permit changed?
The province has explained why it’s no longer asking for a third noise-measuring device to be put in the forest. They say there’s no good place to put one, and it wouldn’t help to have one there anyway. They’re going to keep the noise measuring devices that are already in the Balendijk area, which is where people live. These devices already tell them how loud it is around the motocross center.
They’re also keeping the system where people can complain about noise online. They mentioned that this lets people let the province know when it’s too loud, so they can keep track of things and make sure people are happy.
“We want to give sports infrastructure such as the urban motocross track the opportunity to continue to function sustainably,’
Concludes provincial executive Inge Moors,
“but that is only possible if we simultaneously show respect for local residents and the vulnerable nature reserve in the area.”
The new environmental permit for the motocross center has some changes. The number of riders allowed to practice at the same time is going up from 20 to 30. But even with more riders, the noise limit for the area will stay the same. The motocross center still has to keep noise levels at 50 decibels in the nearby homes.
The organization that runs the motocross center, called SML, still has to keep track of how loud it is. These changes are part of a bigger plan to update noise rules in Flanders, which will happen in 2027. The new rules will be stricter for all racetracks, so these changes are getting the motocross center ready for those stricter rules.
“This decision provides clarity to all parties,”
Concludes deputy Inge Moors.
“SML is given breathing space to invest and professionalize, while we continue to closely monitor the quality of life for the neighborhood and the forest area.”
In 2023, the motocross center asked the province to make the rules about the environment less strict. This happened after people in the area and environmental groups protested in April 2022. They were worried about how the motocross center was affecting the environment.
The province looked at the rules again and talked to people and experts. They also did a new study about the noise. The province decided to change some of the rules to make sure the motocross center could keep running but also to protect the environment.
