Plopsaland is expected to close tomorrow
Starting tomorrow / Tuesday, Plopsaland De Panne no more environmental. If the letter of the law is followed, the park must actually close. So far the probably will not come, though CEO Steve Van den Kerkhof is not so confident. "I have sleepless nights," he says.
The environmental permit for any kind dates back to 1996, when the park was called Meli. Like most environmental permits shall expire after twenty years, which means in practice that there should be a new one on July 18. But that is not the case. Van den Kerkhof before pointing to the company Plopsaland own words 2.5 years ago turned on to control the extension.
A year ago had that West Flemish company, which works with recognized experts to submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). To the dismay of the CEO that did not happen. "The government will have to decide whether it was the complexity of the case or that the company has been working poor ', says Van den Kerkhof. Plopsaland still looking at whether to take legal action. Perhaps the park will only be by October or November in line.
"Park should basically close '
But meanwhile Plopsaland therefore is in a difficult situation. In principle, the park must close, but Van den Kerkhof will "act as a good family man." "That means that we will continue to operate as before and take into account the significant employment in the park," said the CEO.
Plopsaland continues according to him also make efforts to reduce the nuisance to local residents. For example, recently bins placed on the section between the railway station and the park, because some residents were rubbish in their garden.
At the Department of Environment, Nature and Energy states that an official report will be drawn up to determine that there is no environmental anymore. Then follow steps, which may even include the closing of the park. "But one does not have to seize the heaviest penalty," said spokeswoman Brigitte Borgmans. If there is no danger for the environment, they will in other words not immediately proceed to a conclusion. The Department recognizes that Plopsaland has taken.
