Jabbeke (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Jabbeke and Middelkerke rejected Fire District Zone 1’s multi-year plan. Mayor Frank Casteleyn opposes Jabbeke’s €1.5 million extra cost, while chairman Kristof Audenaert defends investments like Bruges’ new headquarters.
As VRT News reported, Jabbeke, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, has refused to approve the new multi-year plan for Fire District Zone 1, following the same decision made earlier by Middelkerke. Mayor Frank Casteleyn (CD&V+) said that his town has been left without proper emergency facilities.
“We used to have civil defence here, but now we have nothing left. No ambulance service, no fire department. And when I ask for help, it is never possible,”
he explained.
According to Mayor Frank Casteleyn, Jabbeke faces the longest response times in the entire district. He believes that an emergency outpost should be placed in the town to reduce those times. The mayor warned that smaller communities are losing local support as services are moved to larger cities.
What made Jabbeke reject Fire Zone 1’s €1.5 million plan?
Casteleyn said he is willing to contribute to the costs of bigger cities within Zone 1, such as Bruges and Ostend, but he criticised the current cost-sharing system. He explained that the “distribution key,” which decides how costs are divided, puts too much pressure on smaller municipalities.
“The smaller towns are being squeezed,”
he said.
He added that larger cities already receive more money from the Municipal Fund and the City Fund, giving them a financial advantage. The mayor called for a fairer formula that takes into account the needs and size of each municipality. He said that every town should receive equal attention and reliable emergency coverage to keep residents safe across the entire fire district.
Under the new multi-year plan for Fire District Zone 1, the municipality of Jabbeke would need to contribute an additional €1.5 million on top of its usual operating costs. Mayor Frank Casteleyn (CD&V+) said the amount is too high for a smaller municipality and called for more flexibility in how the zone’s investments are managed.
“We’ll pay the regular operating costs, no worries,”
Mayor Frank Casteleyn said.
“But can’t the major investments the zone is planning be spread out over time? And couldn’t our interests be considered a little more? I’m not asking for that much.”
Earlier, Middelkerke Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker (LDD) also spoke out against the plan. He said smaller towns are being asked to pay too much for several new fire stations in larger cities, particularly the planned headquarters in Bruges. Dedecker warned that the current funding system puts smaller municipalities at a disadvantage compared to major urban centres.
In response, Zone 1 chairman Kristof Audenaert said that maintaining fire and rescue services is expensive for all municipalities and that the zone is doing its best to remain within its financial limits. He added that the new stations are necessary to modernise the service and improve safety across the region.
Fire District Zone 1 covers 17 municipalities in West Flanders, including Jabbeke, Middelkerke, Bruges and Ostend. The zone operates 9 main fire stations and 2 smaller outposts. It is managed by a zone council led by chairman Kristof Audenaert.
In March 2022, the zone introduced the VERDI alarm and dispatch system to improve communication and coordination during emergencies. The current dispute began in recent months, after smaller towns such as Middelkerke and Jabbeke refused to approve the new multi-year financial plan.
