Aalbeke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Aalbeke residents, led by an action committee, oppose Bosschaert’s new clay quarry due to worries about the environment and health. Despite 722 objections and the council’s rejection, the final decision lies with provincial authorities.
In Aalbeke, a district of Kortrijk, there is a lot of anger about a new clay quarry. The company Bosschaert wants to build it. This is not the first time they have tried to get permission. 10 years ago, they tried but faced strong protests from local people. They had to withdraw their request back then.
Recently, Bosschaert has applied for a permit again. This has made residents very upset once more. The quarry is planned for the Doomanstraat area. People are worried about the environment and their health. They fear the site could be used to dump contaminated soil after the clay is taken out. There are also concerns about dust and noise. These issues could disturb their quality of life. The community is standing together against this new plan.
Will Aalbeke residents stop the clay pit quarry?
The Aalbeke council has said no to Bosschaert’s request for a clay quarry permit. Alderman Hannelore Vanhoenacker stated that the council is worried about the environmental impact and traffic issues.
He mentioned that the clay from the site cannot be used locally, so it would need to be transported, which could cause problems. Because of these concerns, the council decided to reject the proposal. However, this decision is not final and will be sent to provincial authorities for a final choice.
We have indeed given the application a negative recommendation,
confirms Alderman Hannelore Vanhoenacker (TBSK).
The province is expected to decide by mid-April 2025. Alderman Vanhoenacker said there is no guarantee that the provincial authorities will agree with the local council’s decision. Meanwhile, many people in the community have opposed the project. The local action committee and residents have been very active. They have sent in many objections and joined protests and information events.
A protest march and an information session each had good attendance, with around 200 people at the session. The alderman pointed out that the people of Aalbeke are determined to protect their environment and local infrastructure from what they believe is a harmful project.
“A striking number of objections have been submitted. There was also a protest march and an information meeting about the plans that attracted about 200 people.”
says Vanhoenacker.
On January 26, 2025, hundreds of people came together to show their unhappiness. Earlier, on January 14, 2025, about 100 residents went to a meeting to share their concerns. Besides the public protests, the action committee has been working hard to stop the project. They have sent in 722 formal objections and collected 1,245 signatures from local people.
The city council had until February 4, 2025, to look at these objections. The community is now waiting for the council’s decision. Officials mentioned that the support from residents shows that this protest is about more than just the quarry. It is also about protecting the environment and the well-being of the people living in the area.
