Zwevegem performs drastically on climate: rally is prohibited and every 2 weeks car-free Sunday

Zwevegem Mayor Marc Doutreluingne wants from next year, betting heavily on sustainability, renewable energy and environmental sustainability in the municipality. The final climate action plan after consultation with the residents proposed in the first weekend of October but it is already as good as established that the rally 6 hours of Kortijk from Zwevegem excluded.

The rally has been very popular in the region and in the previous editions of the ran part of the trail through Zwevegem. The city council provides the event even years in logistical support but a rally does not fit more in the green policy of the liberal mayor Doutreluingne. It therefore appears that the rally at the end of november for the last Zwevegem rages. “We want the organization not with the back against the wall and would ban only from 2020, to impose. I realize, however, that my fellow-mayor Vincent Van Quickenborne me that measure is not in thank you will decrease, but I have at least the courage to words to turn into actions. Everybody has the mouth full of climate change but few are also effective action.”

“three crosses, which every year continue on private land, which from next year be prohibited as well as driving with quad bikes on rural roads. A oldtimermeeting organizing may possibly even ” know Doutreluingne.

Spokesman of the 6 hours of Kortrijk Sandro Delaere hopes that there is still a deal possible is that the rally still Zwevegem. “Would the prohibition is not fatal because there are alternatives, but a pity it is, anyway. We would like to in consultation with the city council to perhaps is yet to reach a consensus. Last week we have in Kortrijk is still a rallybos planted with 884 trees. With a little luck it is Zwevegemse city council for such an initiative also won.”

Carfree Sundays

Marc Doutreluingne has plans that have a positive impact on the environment and the climate. So he wants the forest to expand with a minimum of 20 ha and preferably even with 80 ha. But more striking is the introduction of car-free Sundays in Large-Zwevegem to the 14 days between 1 april and 1 October. All of that sounds more drastic than it actually is. “A ban on car traffic, I can't enter. I am not a dictator, that rules wants to pour, but it also must be sensitized. There are shuttle buses on that car-free Sundays on which we the inhabitants to stimulate the car at home. The self-employed should also not fear that life suddenly will stop.”

The mayor also expects that the staff in the future to move the (electric) bike or vehicles with renewable energy. And with a biennial klimaatfestival, he wants to be a trendsetter in Belgium. On such a festival will he political debates about climate let up, workshops, infostands to set up with Imog and Aquafin, sustainable party on legs, and meals composed of food surpluses serve. Or there is also a klimaatbelasting, is not yet clear. “If the schepencollege agree with the annual saving of 1% on the operating budget (€350,000), then there is no extra fee to come.”

Klimaatdoos

With such an ambitious climate plan at the local level must be a party if Green, which in Zwevegem in the opposition sits, still a vreugdedansje? “Let's wait”, says party leader Yves De Bosscher. “We could still no concrete plan view, and we wonder what there is to be effective in Zwevegemse klimaatdoos. But it speaks for itself that the schepencollege on our support can count as the ambitions really can be converted into an ambitious plan.”