Port of Antwerp-Bruges received a permit from the provincial government to demolish a shed in poor condition next to the Visart lock in Zeebrugge. The building was also used several times as a hiding place for human smuggling to the UK.
The West Flanders provincial government granted a demolition permit for a former warehouse and workshop next to the Visartsluis in Zeebrugge. The warehouse is empty and in poor condition, so it does not add value for the future, according to the permit application.
In addition, the demolition is also being done for public safety and public health reasons.
“In recent years, there has been an issue of illegal occupation of buildings for one to two days by transmigrants in transit to Britain. This often involved violations of Article 135ยง2 of the New Municipal Law, related to public cleanliness, health and safety. Food waste, rubbish and sometimes even faeces are often left behind, which in turn attract vermin and can contribute to the spread of disease. Generally, it can be said that all vacant properties in the vicinity of the port pose a potential risk of being left undetected, with all its consequences.”
Grass seeding
The building to be demolished stands on a plot in Lanceloot Blondeellaan 1, southwest of the Visart lock at the beginning of the inner harbour. The property is almost 400 square metres in size. The vacant land will be sown with grass. The site is in the area reserved for the future New Lock Zeebrugge project complex.
A permit was already obtained last year for the demolition of three former homes of the harbour masters and lockkeepers. In the neighbourhood that will be located in the site zone, expropriated houses will also be demolished and replaced by temporary lawns.
