Demolition work on a dilapidated building with a high heritage value started on Monday morning despite the region’s refusal to deliver. The mayor decided to ignore it.
In Courcelles, the building of the old Murets school will soon be demolished. In any case, this is what the mayor, Caroline Taquin, wants.
In the town, some residents already regret this disappearance of the urban landscape. This is the case of Eve who immortalizes the building with a few photos. “It’s going to be weird not seeing him anymore”she laments. “I have the impression that it’s a bit of a Belgian specialty to let the buildings collapse and to wait for the necessary to take a position…”
It’s a piece of the city’s heritage that is going away but according to Jacques De Meyer, professional building demolition contractor, the destruction of this building was inevitable. There was no choice but to tear down this building dating from the early 1900s. “With all the humidity, the walls have swelled, all along the back there are trees growing, there are also some growing in the wall above the windows and there are also some elsewhere, he shows. I’m not going to let you inside because all the floors are rotten, it’s not possible…”
“I risk the criminal”
This Monday morning, the demolition work therefore started in Courcelles, despite the refusal of the institutions. This work is not authorized but the mayor has decided to ignore it. The delegated official of the Walloon region rejected the granting of the demolition permit in February, as did the government following the appeal of the mayor in June.
She refuses to endanger the population, including the children who attend the school located right next to the dilapidated building. “As mayor, I risk the criminal as mayor, emphasizes Caroline Taquin. But the life of a child or a citizen is priceless so I take my responsibilities today.”
There was no sealing this morning. If the work is completed, the building with high heritage value will be destroyed within a month.
