The Chant des Cailles area in Watermael-Boitsfort, south of Brussels, remains tense as containers are set to be installed on the site. The land has been a point of contention between ecologists and socialists, with Secretary of State Nawal Ben Hamou planning to build around seventy social housing units on part of the site, owned by Logis Floréal. The conflict between the two groups has been ongoing since the start of the legislature, with the ecologists seeking to preserve the green space and its associative activities. Recently, the installation of 15 containers on the site for Ukrainian refugees by the Société du Logement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale reignited tensions. Despite associations demonstrating their opposition to the construction of the site, Martin Casier, a regional deputy and opposition councilor in Watermael-Boitsfort, defended the installation of the containers as having a social and solidarity vocation, as the land belonged to the social tenants of Logis-Floréal.
Situation still tense on the edge of the Chant des Cailles in Watermael-Boitsfort, south of Brussels. Containers are regarding to be installed, this Monday, on this ground which has already generated sharp discord between ecologists and socialists. As a reminder, Secretary of State Nawal Ben Hamou (PS) intends to build around seventy social housing units on part of the site, owned by the public service real estate company Logis Floréal. A project which has come up once morest, since the beginning of the legislature, the reluctance of ecologists, eager to preserve the green space and its associative activities.
The recent news frominstallation, piloted by the Société du Logement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (SLRB), of 15 containers for the reception of Ukrainian refugees on the site reignited the fire.
Rebound in the Chant des Cailles file: the farm will not oppose the constructions
According to the SLRB statement, the installation work is expected to take six weeks, and requires “the laying of precast and superficial concrete slabs on a layer of stabilized sand”. Partner of the local majority, the MR, interviewed by La Libre Belgiquesees in this project a “sleight of hand” Socialists to advance the social housing project. Opinion shared by associations, which demonstrated this weekend their opposition to the construction of the site.
The 40″representatives of citizen collectives” gathered this Saturday (Cailles. Kwartel, Les Amis du Champ des Cailles and TuiniersForum des Jardiniers) consider that the planning permit does not authorize this site, and call for other sites already concreted and other alternatives to be found. reception of Ukrainian families, in particular via unoccupied public buildings. “The installation of containers on the Chant des Cailles is a rough real estate maneuver intended to prepare the ground for constructions which will serve as electoral support.
Faced with reluctance, regional deputy Martin Casier (PS), opposition councilor in Watermael-Boitsfort, defends the installation of these containers: “These two plots belong to the social tenants of Logis-Floréal, so they have a social and solidarity vocation”.
The tension remains high on the Chant des Cailles site in Watermael-Boitsfort, as the installation of containers for the reception of Ukrainian refugees has reignited the conflict between ecologists and socialists. While the ecologists are determined to preserve the green space and its associative activities, the socialists are keen to advance their social housing project. The opposition from citizen collectives has led to demonstrations, calling for other alternatives to be found for the reception of Ukrainian families. This conflict reflects the wider challenge of reconciling the need for affordable housing with the preservation of the environment and public space.
