Brustem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Brustem (Sint-Truiden), CD&V criticised weeds at the former De Boomhut school site. Alderman Filip Moers said leaseholder, Groot Sint-Truiden, the city is not responsible; fines may follow.
As VRT News reported, in Brustem, a part of Sint-Truiden, the former site of Vrije Basisschool de Boomhut has stirred political tension after opposition party CD&V criticised the state of the property. On social media, the party complained about weeds overtaking the sidewalks around the.
The site has been leased to the Free Subsidized Primary Education Groot Sint-Truiden since September 1, 2003, and critics say the grounds have not been properly maintained. The issue quickly sparked debate among residents, who also raised concerns about how public spaces are being looked after and who should carry the responsibility for them.
What is causing the dispute over weeds at De Boomhut school in Brustem?
Alderman for Facilities Management Filip Moers (Vooruit) rejected the accusations, stressing that the duty to keep the sidewalks clean lies with the leaseholder, just as it does for ordinary residents. The council will now send a written warning to the school board.
They warned that administrative fines would follow if no action were taken after this last reminder. Moers asserted that the same rules applied to everyone in Sint-Truiden, whether a private citizen or institution, and the city would enforce the rules without exception.
CD&V party leader Ingrid Kempeneers says she regrets the way the city is handling the case of the weeds at the former Vrije Basisschool de Boomhut site in Brustem. She admits that the leaseholder, the Free Subsidized Primary Education Groot Sint-Truiden, is formally responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk. But she stresses that the lease agreement was signed 6 months ago and that the weeds are still there today.
At the same time, the city points to its new working method, known as “area-based work,” as proof that it is tackling maintenance more thoroughly. Under this approach, the city concentrates on one district at a time, carrying out all necessary tasks such as clearing weeds, maintaining greenery, repairing roads and fixing small infrastructure before moving on to the next neighbourhood.
“We regularly receive positive feedback from residents that the city looks visibly cleaner,”
Says the alderman.
In the summer of 2022, opposition parties in Sint-Truiden criticised the city for poor weed control in several neighbourhoods, arguing that neglected sidewalks created unsafe and untidy conditions. The majority then defended itself by pointing out that many of those sidewalks were the responsibility of private property owners or leaseholders, not the city.
In Hasselt, a debate arose in 2021, when residents complained about overgrown weeds along busy streets. The city reminded property owners of their duty to maintain the sidewalks in front of their homes or buildings, with the threat of fines if they failed to comply.
