2023-11-27 09:12:00
Located at the entrance to the village, the Fratin sports complex (Etalle) hosts countless clubs and activities. Unfortunately, for several years, the occupants of the premises have had to deal with numerous problems: water leaks in the roof, faulty heating or even unsuitable lighting. We hear that several users are exasperated by this situation.
An injured child
Manu Feller, the president of the basketball club, confirms that he is encountering certain difficulties. “There are really big maintenance problems,” he explains. Not cleaning, but maintaining the structure of the building. The dome has water leaks and a child was even injured by slipping on the puddle formed at the foot of the dome. The Municipality therefore decided to install a black tarpaulin temporarily, but as a result, there is no longer any light. We have been waiting for 5 years,” laments Manu Feller.
Another major problem: aging lighting which no longer meets the standards required by sports competitions. “We also asked to replace the old lighting, but this was not done. We don’t understand why our room is not as well maintained as that of Chantemelle,” he continues.
The latest episode concerned the boiler which broke down at the edge of winter. But according to Jean-Luc Falmagne, the alderman for works in Etalle, what is necessary has been done. “The heating has been repaired since last Thursday,” he confirmed to us. A grant file has been sent to the Walloon Region and we are awaiting a response from Minister Dolimont. We cannot do anything before the minister’s response, these are substantial budgets,” he explains.
A meeting with Minister Dolimont
Faced with these hiccups, we also contacted Sébastien Peiffer, the finance and sports alderman. He is well aware of all these problems and also wants them to be resolved as quickly as possible. “We are meeting, this Tuesday, November 28, with Minister Dolimont in charge of sports to see with him how we might speed up the work. We will also insist that we be subsidized within the framework of quarterly infrasports subsidies. I would also like to add that extension work will begin soon. With the aim of creating storage spaces for clubs,” he wrote to us by email.
Two files
Currently, the Municipality of Etalle has submitted 2 files dated September 30, 2023.
The first concerns a heat pump, an elevator, a technical door for access to the boiler room, but also PMR marking, parking lighting and ventilation of the cafeteria and hall.
The second file submitted will be devoted to wall insulation and changing the cladding; the renovation of the roof and the removal of the skylight; changing frames and installing solar protection; the installation of ventilation in the changing rooms; the installation of LED lighting and the installation of solar panels. All for a total of €378,016.10.
Waste of money
What is necessary has therefore been done on the administrative level, but the wait is becoming more and more painful. “We were due to host the senior cup semi-finals on January 20. The basketball CP explained to us that Fratin had been drawn, but some people on the committee refused to allow the event to take place at our place because of the lighting. This event might bring us between 5,000 and 6,000 euros (Editor’s note: Jean-Luc Falmagne speaks more of 3,000 to 4,000 euros). This money would be really welcome, because we are in great financial difficulty. Especially since we pay 10,000 euros in annual rent to the Municipality and we pay them 20% of the profits from our bar. Our members don’t understand why they have to pay their contributions when we see all this,” complains Manu Feller.
Very helpless in the face of the situation, Jean-Luc Falmagne is not optimistic regarding a possible release by January 2024. “The replacement of lighting is planned in these subsidies. I know that the cut takes place in January, but we can’t do anything without the answer…” he laments. It will therefore certainly take a little more patience before you can take advantage of the new equipment.
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