Honda Park opens again under very strict conditions
Tonight there was news about the Honda Park motocross circuit in Olmen. In February, the circuit's environmental permit was suddenly revoked by the Council of State. This happened after years of discussion about the applicable noise standard. Zuhal Demir, the Flemish Minister for the Environment, has now signed a proposal with permission to put the circuit back into use.
It is important to know that the conditions are terribly strict. For example, only training sessions will be possible, competitions are no longer allowed. A maximum of 20 drivers are allowed on the circuit at the same time and there are very strict noise standards.
This is what Honda Park announced on social media: What once seemed impossible has become reality. The competent Flemish minister Zuhal Demir just signed a proposal allowing the HondaPark in Olmen to be put into use as a motocross circuit again.
Terms & conditions
Cross riders can therefore once again use the excellent facilities of the HondaPark. Albeit under some conditions. For example, no classic MX competitions can take place on the circuit, only training sessions. The number of riders who can ride at the same time is limited to 20. There are also noise standards that the engines must meet.
Flemish Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir announces today that she is issuing a new permit for the Honda Park.
In doing so, it fully complies with the comments of the Council of State on the previous decisions in this file. The exploitation and the impact on noise were fully motivated and assessed, which also resulted in a number of conditions. Demir issues a permit for one circuit for highly dynamic motorcycles for training of 1800 meters, one beginners' circuit for less dynamic motorcycles of 600 meters and one mini-circuit for children of 300 meters.
For clarity; highly dynamic motorcycles are the classic adult four-stroke motocross bikes. Low-dynamic motorcycles are, for example, electric motorcycles, enduros or children's motorcycles. The noise pollution from the licensed activities is assessed as acceptable by Demir. There are verges with wooded edges around the site, as well as an 80-metre forest strip in the north. The nearest residential area is at a distance of 810 meters.
The applicant also renounced the wish to organize competitions between highly dynamic engines, because these normally take place with 30-40 engines and the operator could not demonstrate until further notice that the noise standards are met. However, up to 9 competitions per year are made possible for low-dynamic and electric motors.
Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir: "In recent months I have talked to many passionate people within motorsports and also the operator of the Olmen circuit. I chose to get the most out of it, despite the case law of the Council of State, because it cannot be magically wiped away. A perfect situation was therefore not possible, but with this permit we give motorsport as much extra oxygen as possible. Flanders has a beautiful history in motorsport, but the sport must also have a place in Flanders in the future".
Flemish Minister of Sports Ben Weyts: "Motocross is a very physical sport, which we absolutely want to keep in Flanders. The situation is precarious: in the 90s we had more than 100 sites, today there are only 4. There are still new possibilities for the future. For example, electric motors are increasingly used, which cause much less noise pollution. This will also make it easier for you to find locations for new areas".
It is already the third important motorsport dossier where Demir is making efforts to defuse the dossier. Demir previously issued environmental permits for the motocross circuit in Lommel and the GLOSSO circuit in Arendonk. Demir emphasizes that several areas still face challenges in terms of permits, including after several recent court rulings. Nevertheless, she wants to work towards solutions as much as possible in every case. “My door is always open to discuss additional future options,” Demir concludes.
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