Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – People in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, especially older residents from Negenmanneke and Zuun, oppose building a Chiro youth center on busy pétanque courts. Mayor Jan Desmeth promises a fair solution soon.
As VRT News reported, people in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, are not happy with the council’s plan to build a new Chiro youth building on the pétanque courts near the Wildersport complex. These courts are in the Negenmanneke and Zuun neighborhoods.
Locals, mostly older people, use them often, especially on warm evenings and weekends. They say the courts are always busy. For many, it is not just about the game. It is also a way to meet friends and enjoy the outdoors.
Residents say the council is wrong to claim the courts are not used. They want the council to visit the site and see for themselves. People feel left out of the decision and want the courts to stay.
What will happen to Sint-Pieters-Leeuw’s Pétanque courts amid Chiro plans?
Residents in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw say the pétanque courts are still popular and used often, even though the council claims they are not. People playing there say anyone who visits on a sunny day can see how busy it gets.
Many are worried that losing the courts will leave fewer places for people, especially older ones, to meet and stay active. They believe the Chiro group needs a building, but not at the cost of a public space others also need. Locals now want the council to find another spot for the new building or move the courts to a different place.
Residents in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw are asking for a quick meeting with the council about plans to build a new Chiro building on the pétanque courts near the Wildersport complex. The courts are used often by people from the Negenmanneke and Zuun neighborhoods, many of them older residents.
They say they were not told about the plan and want a chance to share their concerns. They fear losing a place where they meet, play, and spend time together. The players want the council to listen before making a final choice.
“This decision has been made completely over our heads,” says one resident. “We’re absolutely not against the Chiro youth organization; they deserve better housing. But now it’s detrimental to our enjoyment of the pétanque courts. There are many more people who enjoy those courts than the municipality might realize.”
Mayor Jan Desmeth says the council knows people are worried about the plan to build a Chiro building on the pétanque courts. He says a meeting will happen soon. One problem, he explains, is that the players are not part of an official group, so the town is trying to gather their contact details to invite them.
The mayor also says the courts will not be taken away without other options.
“We never planned to just remove them,”
he said.
“We have different ideas and will show them to the players. They do not need to worry, we will not leave them behind.”
The pétanque courts near the Wildersport complex in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw have been used by local people for many years. In 2023, residents in Wilrijk (Antwerp) opposed the removal of part of a neighborhood park to make room for a new community center. Just like in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, locals said they were not properly consulted and feared losing a valued meeting place, especially for older people.
