Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent’s Verenigde Straten Dampoortwijk warns of legal action, demanding renewed dialogue on the revised district mobility plan amid rising civic concerns.
Additional actions will be taken if Ghent does not reply to the request.
“Ghent erases the proven positive effects of the plan in one fell swoop.”
The city regrets the notice of default.
Together with a number of citizens from the Oud Gentbrugge neighborhood and the Cyclists’ Union, the citizen collective Verenigde Straten Dampoortwijk (VSD) has placed the city of Ghent in default.
Regarding the announced changes to the district mobility plans, they would like to speak with the city. Earlier this month, Ghent, Belgium, announced changes that would take effect following the summer.
The city stressed that a thorough assessment of the changes’ effects was conducted before making the announcement. Measurements and resident surveys preceded this assessment.
The citizen collective requests further consultation since they feel the city did not make the correct conclusions from this. There will be more actions taken if this doesn’t occur.
“The evaluation shows that through traffic in the district has decreased and the quality of life has increased. The city wants to allow heavy traffic to flow through residential areas again. The decision comes under pressure from political profiling and negative perceptions,”
Says Tom Baetens of the VSD.
The collective states that traffic will certainly become busier again in 9 streets after the adjustments.
“This will have negative consequences for the safety of cyclists, the quality of life of residents and the accessibility in the neighborhood.”
“Since the announcement of the adjustments, there has been no more contact with alderman Joris Vandenbroucke (For Ghent). At the same time, we see that there is smooth consultation with the neighboring municipality of Destelbergen. We have always been constructive, but we notice that people mainly listen when threats are made.”
With the notice of default, the collective now issues an ultimatum to the city. Within a week, Ghent must accept the proposal; if not, further action will be taken.
The first is a complaint to the Agency for Internal Affairs in Flanders. A lawsuit could come later. This would not be the first time a judge would be presented with the district transportation plan. A few processes are still in progress, including cases that opponents of the plans have started.
“It is a pity that this step is being taken before the adjustments have been implemented and we can see the effects. It remains the intention of the city council to keep the large flows of through traffic out of the neighbourhoods,”
Says alderman Vandenbroucke in a brief response.
“There are major bottlenecks: buses are losing time in traffic jams, residential streets are taking up more traffic and traders are seeing their turnover decline. We are tackling this now, but we are keeping a close eye on it. Six months after the adjustments, we will take stock again.”
How might Ghent’s regret influence future negotiations with the United States Dampoortwijk?
Ghent acknowledges the growing public discontent and the controversial character of the city’s mobility policy by expressing concern over the notice of default from Verenigde Straten Dampoortwijk. Although regret by itself does not ensure significant change, it can provide a window for fresh discussion or compromise, particularly in light of the intense polarization and public dissatisfaction with the involvement procedures in Ghent’s mobility decisions.
Mobility plans, like those impacting Dampoortwijk, have become hot spots for conflict and even legal issues in recent years, demonstrating the city administration of Ghent’s inability to unite its inhabitants. Local lawmakers and focus groups have observed that the city’s attempts to involve citizens have frequently failed, which has left citizens feeling frustrated and as though their issues are not being taken seriously.
