Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Kortrijk city council opposes the northernmost of 4 proposed wind turbines because residents are concerned about shadow flicker, noise, and ice. Despite a ministerial permit, the council appeals to balance renewable energy with local living conditions. Hannelore Vanhoenacker is in charge of planning.
The city council decided not to build the 4th wind turbine because it was too close to homes. Hannelore Vanhoenacker, who is in charge of planning, said this turbine could cause too many problems. The council wanted to support clean energy but also listen to the community’s worries. Many residents still did not agree with the wind turbine project and continued to speak out against it.
“We feel that the chance that this specimen will cause nuisance and inconvenience in terms of shadow flicker, noise and chunks of ice sliding off the blades is still too great,”
Says Alderman for Spatial Planning Hannelore Vanhoenacker.
Why are many residents in Kortrijk still against the wind turbine project?
The city of Kortrijk is appealing the decision about the wind turbines. They still oppose the northernmost turbine, which is planned near homes. Hannelore Vanhoenacker said the city supports only three of the four turbines. She mentioned they would return to the Council of State to stop the northernmost turbine. Vanhoenacker knows renewable energy is important but feels frustrated because Kortrijk has fewer wind turbines than other areas.
“Our vision on renewable energy is not absolute”
Hannelore Vanhoenacker
According to Hannelore Vanhoenacker, in charge of planning, the city likes renewable energy but looks at each case separately. This is why Kortrijk is appealing the latest permit decision to the Council of State. They want to balance being green with the worries of local residents.
In 2016, over 2,700 people filed objections against the turbines. According to officials, now, the 4 turbines might face strong resistance again. Residents worry the turbines will harm one of the last natural areas in the city. This has led to protests since the project began.
In 2016, Electrabel and Yard Energy Development proposed building 4 tall wind turbines in Kortrijk, each 185 meters high. Over 2,700 people filed objections against the turbines. They feared the turbines would cause problems like shadow flicker, noise, and ice falling from the blades. They mentioned that shadow flicker happens when the moving blades create changing shadows, which could disturb people’s lives.
According to officials, the turbines’ loudness was a source of concern for many who lived close by. During the winter, ice may build on the blades and fall off, providing a safety issue. Despite these concerns, the municipal council assessed the proposal and approved three of the four turbines, believing they would not create too much disruption.
The plan to build 4 tall wind turbines has faced many problems over almost ten years. In 2018, the first permit was cancelled by the Council of State after local people raised concerns. Many residents opposed the project, leading to more legal actions.
In 2023, a second permit was also cancelled. Despite these issues, in December 2024, the minister gave permission again to build the turbines. This decision started the debate again and got local authorities reacting.
