Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- La Cafèt’ in the Roodebeek Park in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert is a temporary project that is due to end on 15 November. However, manager Michel Poniris wants to make it a permanent space, but there is no response from the municipality. “Kids want to celebrate their birthday here, but I still can’t give them any certainty.”
At the beginning of this year, the municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert launched a call for projects to exploit the vacant pavilion in the Roodebeek Park. Poniris’ project won. Since 1 May, he has been running La Cafèt’, a cosy pancake and playhouse that is a popular location for birthday parties for children from the neighbourhood, says a BRUZZ reporter.
The project was planned to close on November 15, but due to the great success Poniris wants to remain open until December 7th. “I have already received reservations for birthday parties after November 15th and the Sinterklaas party is coming,” says Poniris, “but I can’t answer my customers because the municipality is taking a long time to make a decision. It is a pity, the initiative came from the municipality at the time, but now there is no more attention for it.”
Waiting for an answer
As early as August, Poniris sent an email to Mayor Olivier Maingain (DéFI) asking for an extension, but he had to wait three weeks for an answer. “That answer was also very vague and no decision at all,” Poniris says. In September, he started a petition against the closure of the project. So far, 285 people have signed the petition. “The municipality has promised that they will make a decision by next week at the latest.”
“Customers have spontaneously sent emails to Maingain asking whether La Cafèt’ can remain open. So there is definitely demand in the area,” says Poniris. “The store is aimed at families with children between the ages of 3 and 7. In winter they will also be able to drink a hot chocolate, eat a pancake or play board games.”
Mayor Maingain could not be reached for comment.
