Ninove (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ninove, led by Forza Ninove, will open a temporary parking lot at Oude Kaai near the former Kaaischool in three weeks. Alderman Pascal Schietecat aims to ease city centre parking shortages.
As VRT News reported, Ninove is set to begin construction of a temporary parking lot on Oude Kaai, close to the city centre. The plan was approved by the previous city board but faced legal delays before any work could start.
Now, the new board led by Forza Ninove has confirmed the project. Parking in Ninove is considered affordable compared to many other cities. Drivers in the red zone pay €3 for 2 hours, while the yellow zone allows 4hours for €3.20. Parking fines are much higher at €15.
“It’s everyone’s right to find a free parking space first,”
Says Alderman Pascal Schietecat (Forza Ninove).
How is Ninove addressing parking shortages with temporary parking initiatives?
The temporary parking will provide free spaces alongside the paid zones. Some worry that this could leave paid parking areas empty. But the city wants to be clear that its real goal is to accommodate its shortage of parking. With added choice, they want people to have options to find parking in a timely and safe manner. The officials believe this will increase accessibility, lessen congestion and make the city centre easier to navigate overall.
The city of Ninove will open a new temporary parking lot on the grounds of the former Kaaischool, located right next to an existing parking area. The school building has already been mostly demolished, leaving the site empty for some time. Municipal spokesperson Schiettecat said the city hopes the lot will be ready to welcome cars within 3 weeks.
Similar temporary parking initiatives have been implemented in other Belgian cities to address short-term parking shortages during urban development projects. In Leuven, the city collaborated with KU Leuven and the NMBS to develop a science park on the railway plateau, which included plans for a large park-and-ride facility. The project aimed to provide sample parking spaces for commuters and visitors to the science park.
