2023-06-27 09:22:00
A few weeks ago, regarding fifteen militants of the PTB louviérois entered the Parc Boël to the great displeasure of Duferco Wallonie who had then lodged a complaint with the police for violation of private property. At the time, Antoine Hermant confided to us that it was “a political act, an action to mark the occasion and to demonstrate that this site, which is otherwise well maintained, is perfectly suited to be open to public quickly”, told us Antoine Hermant, leader of the PTB louviérois. “We really find it unfortunate that it remains closed when the City is regarding to sign the deed of sale with the agreement of Duferco and the Walloon Region, that the latter owns 49% of the site and that it is well maintained.”
The Louviérois PTB thus claimed that the Park should return to the Louviérois without waiting for the signing of the act between the City and Duferco and demanded that it be reopened to the public in the summer. In a press release, Antoine Hermant also recalled that “Duferco had received the Park for the symbolic euro and that this heritage had been created thanks to the wealth produced over the years by the workers of the region.”
One month following the events, and while the PTB made the request, formal this time, to the company to visit the park during the party’s festive day scheduled for July 1, Duferco Wallonie dismantles the PTB’s arguments one by one and warns: “at this stage, given the purchase intention confirmed by the City, visits are strictly reserved for the City’s project teams in order to establish a development plan”, indicated Olivier Waleffe, Managing Director of Duferco Wallonie which manages Parc Boël.
No redemption at a symbolic euro
First argument denied, the fact that the Parc Boël would have been acquired for the symbolic euro. “No, the Boël park was not bought for €1. Parc Boël and its castle, both abandoned and unsanitary when taken over by Duferco, were part of a set of assets, those of the company H-UGB, for Hoogovens – Usines Gustave Boël. The Boël family, in serious difficulty with its steel activities in Louvierse, had indeed ceded control of the company to the Dutch group Hoogovens. The rescue of the activity at the end of the 90s and 2000s, an alternative to a brutal bankruptcy which was taking shape, will therefore have required a social plan and bold investments of 100 million euros, and not a purchase at 1€.
If Duferco does not deny that the Park is well maintained, on the other hand, it is not secure. “The castle and its park were unsanitary when Duferco took up the question of a possible renovation. A renovation is inconceivable without recurring maintenance, both of the castle and its immediate surroundings. An interview carried out for almost 20 years. Of course, 21 ha of park, part of which is not maintained, that’s a lot of trees, and a few falls in high winds. Some trees are also unhealthy.”
Finally, for Duferco Wallonie, the Boël park does not belong to 49% to the Walloon Region. “Company law is clear on this. A company is a legal person and its directors have the obligation to ensure its interest and its viability. The Boël park is of course 100% owned by Duferco Wallonie and is one of the assets that offset all of the company’s liabilities.”
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