The controversy relating to the agreement between the City of Liège and the Ardentes festival has existed since… the beginning. Or more precisely, since the public authorities have granted this ASBL, which has become a public limited company, several hundred thousand euros each year… For good (promotional) service rendered to the City, we must understand.
But this year, more than ever, the malaise seems to have settled in for a long time, as evidenced by past exchanges between the majority (PS-MR) and the opposition in Liège on Tuesday evening. Not because the amount of the grant awarded “to a company whose purpose is to make a profit”noted the elected Julien Étienne (Les Engagés), went from 200,000 to 340,000 euros – in the midst of a budgetary shortage, “which brings the total amount of subsidies to nearly one million over the legislature”, noted for his part Guy Krettels (Vert Ardent). But above all because the relocation to Rocourt entails, alongside this deemed subsidy “scandalous” by the PTB, a new agreement sealing the future of several hectares of land… land initially intended for other purposes. And all this in a setting that raises questions, as denounced by the elected Vega François Schreuer.
“Ashamed”, “a total lack of respect”
At the heart of the deal between Liège and Les Ardentes, this agreement thus granting, for two months, land of several tens of hectares, located between the streets of the Village and the Tree Sainte-Barbe, in Rocourt. Two months, then, to prepare a few days of festival… and then tidy up all the “bazaar”… But above all, a promise made to the inhabitants that nothing else would be organized here during the remaining 10 months, except for a park (and possibly temporary parking in the event of an RFCL match, we heard at the Liège council on Tuesday). It is up to the Ardentes to create this landscaped park?
“In this case, we must very sincerely pull ourselves together”immediately reacted Councilor Vega, “because from the beginning, we are outside of all legality”. What bothers? “To put it clearly, you are giving land intended for social housing to a public limited company responsible for creating a park. We are therefore preparing to sell off tens of hectares of land reserve”. Without debate. Silence in the assembly.
On this site, once more underlines the rather annoyed elected official, “It should be noted that there is also a school in the City of Liège, that of Horticulture. We therefore wonder what the crops will look like followingwards… Not to mention the fact that two tents are set up here, during the exams. C is mind-blowing, it’s a total lack of respect”… “We would like to discredit Liège education that we wouldn’t do it any other way”. That is what is said…
To validate the subsidy, a nominative vote was requested and passed… majority (PS-MR) once morest opposition (PTB, Vert Ardent, Les Engagés, Défi, Vega).
