Nine municipalities challenge new Liège Airport permit at Council of State
A group of nine municipalities in Belgium and the Netherlands have lodged an appeal with the Council of State against Liège Airport’s latest operating permit. It is the third time they have taken such action.
The Walloon government granted a new “permis unique” in July, after two previous permits were withdrawn before the Council could rule. As before, Flemish municipalities are joining the legal challenge.
The municipalities in Belgian and Dutch Limburg, representing around 280,000 residents, fear the permit would increase noise and environmental impacts. It allows up to 55,000 flights a year, or around 150 per day, compared to the current 35,000.
They also criticise the replacement of an overall noise quota with individual limits per aircraft, and say cross-border health and environmental effects were not assessed.
On the Belgian side, the consortium includes Riemst, Bilzen-Hoeselt, Tongeren-Borgloon, Gingelom and Voeren, although Voeren’s participation still requires council approval next month. The Dutch parties are Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem, Vaals and Maastricht.
"The permit has a huge impact on people and the environment and ignores the concerns of surrounding municipalities"
“We are not asking for Liège Airport to close,” said Riemst mayor Mark Vos. “But 55,000 flights per year is far too many and insufficiently justified. The permit has a huge impact on people and the environment and ignores the concerns of surrounding municipalities.”
Tongeren-Borgloon mayor Jo Feytons said that while local industry benefits from the airport, an expansion would be “too much for our residents”, particularly if night flights rise, which he warned could increase disturbance by up to 30 per cent.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY
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