The request had been introduced before the Council of State by a series of associations including the ASBL Natagora, Inter-Environnement Wallonie, the Naturalistes de la Haute Lesse, Maison de la pêche, Association for the defense of the sites and valleys of Namur ( ADSVN), as well as SA Villatoile or Hydrolesse.
These opposed the Walloon government and demanded the cancellation of the ministerial decree dated October 26, 2017 by which SPRL Dinant Tourisme and Pitance were authorized to operate a kayak rental activity on the Lesse (sections Houyet-Gendron , Gendron-Anseremme and Houyet-Anseremme).
After a long procedure, the Council of State canceled this authorization. In its decision, it notes in particular that there is nothing to ensure that the number of authorized launches does not risk prejudicing the integrity of the Natura 2000 sites crossed by the course of the kayaks.
