Residents of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Oppose Chiro Building Plan

Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (Eurotoday) – 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


Comments

10 responses to “Residents of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Oppose Chiro Building Plan”

  1. lightening trip Avatar
    lightening trip

    Typical, innit? First, they steal your pétanque courts, next they’ll be charging a toll for the pleasure of breathing the fresh air! 🤦‍♂️ Just what we need, more ‘youth centers’ taking over our beloved spots!

  2. Polar Bee Avatar
    Polar Bee

    Looks like the council’s got its priorities straight—who needs a place for the community to gather when you can build a youth center on a pétanque court, right? 🙄 Can’t wait for the next meeting—bet it’ll be a real hoot! 🍷

  3. Screwtape Avatar
    Screwtape

    Oh, brilliant idea! Because nothing screams “youth engagement” quite like replacing pétanque courts with a shiny new Chiro building—surely the seniors will just love playing boules in the parking lot! 😏

  4. Whip Chu Avatar

    Oh great, let’s just toss the local pétanque courts aside for a shiny new Chiro building—because who needs a community space when you can have more meetings, right? 🙄🏗️

  5. FlyGuardX Avatar
    FlyGuardX

    Seems like the council’s got a real talent for picking the busiest pétanque courts as prime real estate for a youth center—next, they’ll be suggesting we build a café right in the middle of the Brussels rush hour! 😂

  6. Bambi Wings Avatar
    Bambi Wings

    Oh, building a Chiro center on the pétanque courts? Brilliant move! Because who needs outdoor social spaces when you can have more buildings? 🙄

  7. PepperBurst Avatar
    PepperBurst

    Oh sure, let’s just build a fancy youth center where the old-timers play their beloved pétanque—who needs community spaces when you can have shiny new buildings, right? 🙄 Typical, I say!

  8. Killah Goose Avatar
    Killah Goose

    Oh, brilliant idea! Who wouldn’t want to replace a beloved pétanque court with a Chiro building? Because clearly, nothing says community like trading in good old-fashioned outdoor fun for a shiny new youth centre. 🙄

  9. Moonflower Avatar
    Moonflower

    Seems like the council’s idea of progress is to swap pétanque courts for a new Chiro building—because who needs community spaces when you can have more places for youths to hang out and get into mischief, right? 😂

  10. Seems like the council’s got their priorities straight – who needs a place for the locals to play pétanque when you can build a shiny new youth center? Classic! 😏

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