Residents file complaint over school construction works in Schaerbeek

A group of local residents have filed a complaint with Belgium’s Council of State over the planned construction of a new school on the Vanderlinden street in Schaerbeek.

Although works only started at the beginning of the summer, local residents have already filed a complaint with the advisory board on federal judicial matters in protest at poor management of the construction site.

The residents told BX1 they are also worried about the potential presence of asbestos in some of the buildings that have been razed down to make room for the new school. Finally, they are also concerned about the size of the new building, which will create spots for 1,140 Brussels children.

The 16,000 sq. m. building complex will house both a Dutch-language primary and secondary school as well as a youth centre. Construction works should be over and the schools ready to open by September 2020.

Like many other larger Belgian cities, Brussels is facing a shortage of spots in pre-school education and in primary schools as a result of a recent demographic boom.

Photo: Belga / Siska Gremmelprez

Written by Linda A. Thompson