MXMag spoke to Natuurpunt about the closure of MC Lille
On January 11, 2024, our sport received a huge boost from VZW Natuurpunt. The association, together with two local residents, went to the Council for Permit Disputes and had the recently issued environmental permit annulled. The reactions from the heavily troubled motocross world have since been very emotional.
At the end of December, the Lommel circuit also came to attention due to the fact that the newly imposed standards, which were applicable from January 1, 2024, would not be achieved. Environment Minister Zuhal Demir quickly came up with an interim solution to keep the circuit open for the time being.
Emotions
At the beginning of January, the MC Lille circuit came head-on in the line of fire and had to close its doors with immediate effect. There was a very emotional response to the closure on social media. On Monday afternoon the news came that one of the complainants was a politician. Het Nieuwsblad announced that it was Gie Knockaert who, together with Natuurpunt, challenged MC Lille's permit. He quickly stated that it was not his intention to close the circuit and is now stepping aside.
Read some quotes from the press below:
Jef Leysen, chairman of MC Lille: "Surprisingly, two citizens and Natuurpunt are right. And that is troubling. Because we do what we can to give all enthusiasts a safe place to practice their sport. We follow the conditions of our permit, issued by Minister Demir. Let's not forget that our club has been around for more than fifty years: that is simply part of Lille."
Stefan Everts via VRT: "The problem has been going on for years. So many circuits have already been closed. There are only a few left in Belgium to train permanently. The circuits that are still there will sooner or later also have to close. Belgium is a densely populated country, we are all quite close to each other. But there must be locations where we can still practice our sport."
Joël Roelants via RTV: "As Belgians, we are fortunate that we live close to the Netherlands. They have 60 to 70 circuits in a country that is only a little bigger. But in Flanders it is really disastrous. It should be possible to keep some circuits open, even if only a few days a week. If this doesn't even work..."
Zuhal Demir via Het Nieuwsblad: "Anyone who enjoys making things impossible has no respect for this sport and tradition in Flanders. I find the judge's ruling incomprehensible. I regret even more that the judge is taking the place of the Flemish government by refusing the permit. In any case, I'm not going to abandon the sport. I bring the operator together with Sport Vlaanderen and our people around the table with a view to preparing a new permit application. The compatibility of sport with the environment is something I continue to believe in."
Our ten questions for VZW Natuurpunt
We wanted to ask the questions on the lips of everyone involved in motocross. Many motocross riders and their supporters cannot escape the impression that Natuurpunt wants to make tabula rasa of all motorized sports and that requires an explanation. That is why we asked the press officer of Natuurpunt to answer ten burning current questions. You can read it below.
MXMag: The motocross community feels paced by VZW Natuurpunt and other nature movements due to the fact that the transition to electric motorcycles has only just started. They even speak of bullying behavior towards all forms of motorsport. There are currently no motorcycles commercially available with sufficient battery capacity to complete a race. Isn't it drastic and premature to close motocross circuits through all kinds of procedures, since there is no alternative available at the moment?
Nature point: Natuurpunt is not against motor sports (it also concerns autocross and go-carts) as such. We understand that there must be room for this, also in Flanders. We also realize that the transition to electric cross competitions is not until tomorrow, but we are convinced that it is going there. That is why we are in favor of temporary permits. The problems are different for every location and require a tailor-made solution to stay within the environmental regulations. The current policy now appears to be aimed at adapting the general rules “to measure”. This approach leads to misunderstanding among those who bear the burden.
MXMag: It is heartbreaking for motocross-loving Flanders to see all those circuits disappear. Since the inception of the Motocross World Championship in 1957, Belgian motocross riders have won no fewer than 52 world titles. No country does better. The sporting heritage is so great that the average motocross enthusiast in our country has the feeling that a smear campaign is being waged against the sport. Does Natuurpunt have no respect for the sport and tradition?
Nature point: Natuurpunt absolutely gives motocross riders infrastructure to practice their sport, but a strong policy is needed to invest in a solid structure in places where nature and local residents are not affected. This obviously costs money and so it is up to the government and the players involved to choose whether or not to invest in this. A lot has changed in Flanders since 1957. We have become a densely populated region in the world where nature has been reduced to the scraps that remain today. Natuurpunt stands up for the remaining nature in Flanders and it is not because Natuurpunt does so that there is no respect for motor sports. Respect comes from both sides, in Lille's permit procedure, nature was not taken into account despite the objections. There has also been no preliminary consultation regarding the permit application. Many Natuurpunters are also proud of our world champions in this sporting discipline and let us know.
MXMag: For circuit operators and the many clubs active in motocross, it seems like a David versus Goliath battle between Natuurpunt and the few circuits that remain. Natuurpunt receives millions of euros in subsidies from Flanders and Europe, while a small sport like motocross has to make ends meet with few resources. Motocross enthusiasts think this is an unfair fight and believe that Natuurpunt has become too powerful. Is this conclusion correct?
Nature point: Flanders has the obligation to care for its own natural heritage, for the benefit of animals and plants, but also for its own population. During the corona crisis, we have all been able to conclude that this is not an unnecessary luxury. In recent months there have been major floods in Flanders that could have been avoided by preserving more space for water in the form of nature reserves.
The Natuurpunt association is committed to realizing part of that Flemish nature and we indeed receive subsidies for that work (which the government would otherwise have to do itself). These subsidies are mainly invested in land purchases because this is the only way to sustainably protect nature. We do not make any profit from these lands. On the contrary, the management of nature reserves costs Natuurpunt money because the management subsidies do not fully cover the costs. Thanks to the efforts of motivated volunteers and target group workers, Natuurpunt succeeds in managing nature every year. It is cheaper to invest in wet nature areas than to pay for flood damage afterwards. And we pay for legal proceedings out of our own pocket through membership fees and the like.
MXMag: For many people, even those not involved in the sport, it is unbelievable to say that a nature reserve is damaged if there is a motocross track nearby. In the Netherlands, a few years ago, rare plants were even found on a motocross circuit because no pesticides had been used for thirty years. To date, no scientific evidence has been provided that an adjacent nature reserve is damaged by the proximity of a motocross circuit. What arguments does Natuurpunt use to contest a circuit that is located next to a nature reserve?
Nature point: Our main argument remains the noise pollution caused by the cross terrain in Lille and its impact on people and the environment. Indeed, no scientific studies have yet been conducted in Flanders on this subject. (A literature study by INBO into the impact of noise) But that does not mean that there is no nuisance. The highest court also ruled this way. There are already numerous studies that demonstrate negative effects of (traffic) noise (but also from festivals, for example) on animals (mainly breeding birds).
As far as nature on cross terrains is concerned. Motocross creates pioneering situations: bare ground, loose sand, etc. Provided that the disturbance is limited, pioneer plants or animals (such as sand bees) can benefit from this. So not everything is doom and gloom, but it would be going too far to say that motocross has positive consequences for nature. Rather, the sport coincidentally creates the same conditions that a wild boar or other large animal would create, but without the disturbance of noise. Noise pollution is the main reason why recreationalists do not visit the nearby nature reserve on days when cross-country skiing takes place.
MXMag: The motocross community in our country has felt for years that there is no dialogue between the parties involved. The international motorsport federation has introduced new rules to limit the sound pressure of motorcycles. These were introduced in the Motocross World Championship and further rolled out to national regulations. The new rules must ensure a viable sport for everyone. Should nature movements be more involved in the future with regulations surrounding sports that produce sound pressure?
Nature point: Absolute! That seems like a good proposal to us, not only nature associations, but also local residents. A negotiated solution is always preferable. Is that a guarantee of success? Perhaps not. Convincing everyone remains exceptional, but a broadly supported compromise will get you further than a one-sided proposal.
MXMag: Specifically in the MC Lille file, you speak of a spatial disorder in Flanders that is the origin of the current situation. Wouldn't it be better to correct this at a political level instead of tackling the few circuits that remain?
Nature point: Naturally, we are also working with our association on adapting the legislative framework, both in negotiations with politicians and administration and on a legal level. Our latest initiative in this regard is to challenge the damage settlement that the Flemish Government recently approved, which makes the conversion of a hard destination to an open space destination unaffordable. As a result, for example, few flood-prone building lands will be converted to nature or agriculture. However, we all know by now that space for water is desperately needed. Possibly moving the recreational area to a less disruptive location and converting the current location again to agriculture can therefore become an expensive matter.
MXMag.be: According to Natuurpunt, the Lille circuit is currently unable to meet the noise standards set out in the legislation. This will be possible in the near future when the gradual introduction of a lower sound pressure (represented by the F.I.M.) will be realized together with the electrification of the sport. The motocross community is very afraid that, if the sound pressure falls below the permitted standards, other arguments will be presented for closing circuits. Is this a justified fear from the motorsport world?
Nature point: Natuurpunt does not campaign against motor sports but evaluates activities based on the nuisance or damage they cause to vulnerable nature, landscape and environment. If these disadvantages are reduced, there will be fewer objections from nature considerations. Specific to Lille, there have apparently been scenarios on the table since 2013 that - if they had been implemented - could have prevented many problems. To realize these scenarios on the ground, investments will have to be made, for example in relocating the access road and car parks. Let this be a call to politics.
MXMag: After the circuit in Lille, the only options left for training are Lommel and Genk. There are an estimated 3000 active motocross riders in our country. According to Natuurpunt, is there still room for motocross in Flanders and if so, which places or zones are suitable for this?
Nature point: From our answer to previous questions you can already deduce that Natuurpunt does indeed have a place for motor sports. The second part of this question is more difficult to answer. Just as for golf courses and wind turbines, we believe it is appropriate to carry out a thorough screening based on a number of criteria. A lot of study work has already been done, but implementation is lagging behind. With consultation it should be possible to arrive at legally sound solutions.
MXMag: Natuurpunt regrets that a mayor (ed. Marleen Peeters of the municipality of Lille) openly takes sides on social media, without mentioning the legal arguments. According to Natuurpunt, this polarizes the conflict and does not contribute to the search for a sustainable solution. Isn't it polarizing that Natuurpunt disputes a permit knowing that one of the few circuits in our country must close immediately?
Nature point: Participation by citizens and associations on matters that concern them is a constitutional right and is also anchored in international treaties that Belgium has signed. The idea is that nuisance activities are tailored to what the environment can handle. If a judge, and in this case even the highest court in the country, rules that a permit is not possible, then that is not the fault of the complainant but a sign that the licensing authority has gone too far and that a reconsideration is required. is order. The mere fact that there are few circuits is not a mitigating factor for a judge. After all, this does not reduce the nuisance on site.
The fact that there are few circuits should be an incentive for the sector and the government to make serious efforts to study alternatives and invest in the sector.
MXMag: What is the position of Natuurpunt regarding the impact and ecological footprint of other heavy-duty activities such as Rock Werchter, ice rinks, major cycling races with a mega caravan and helicopters, etc.
Nature point: Natuurpunt's starting point for all human activities, both one-off and permanent, is that they must fit into the environment or, in other words, not exceed the limits of what the environment can tolerate in terms of pressure. Where that limit lies depends on many factors: the nature of the activity, mitigation measures, the season, the amount of nature in the area and its quality, etc. For example, the same activity may be perfectly suitable in one place but cause too much inconvenience in another.
It is also good to know that approximately 800.000 permits are issued in Flanders every year. Only 800 applications require court intervention. That's barely 1%. It is only because there are some high-profile cases that the image is created that Natuurpunt is an association that is against everything. This deserves at least some nuance. In the majority of cases that go to trial (60%), the complainant is ruled in favor by the court. We see this as a clear indication that the licensing authority did not make a balanced decision.
Tekst: Danny Hermans
Photos: Rabbits Ballooning Team, MC Lille, Natuurpunt Lille, MX for Kids and MXMag archive
Also to read
Langenfelder is going to try it this weekend
Last weekend during the mud festival, Simon Langenfelder was injured. The GasGas rider crashed in the early stages of the second moto and broke his collarbone. The German is finished…Ferruccio Zanchi makes his return this weekend
Good news for Ferruccio Zanchi and Team HRC because the Italian makes his return this weekend. The 17-year-old motocross rider crashed during training before the Grand Prix in Sardinia...Kawasaki comes with a factory team in the MX2
Good news from Kawasaki because from 2025 the Japanese brand will field an official factory rider(s) in the FIM MX2 World Championship. This will happen under the banner of IceOne Racing. It …Hermans/Van den Bogaart win ONK Heerde
Koen Hermans and Ben van den Bogaart have won the ONK in Heerde. They were in the dress rehearsal for the Grand Prix, which takes place in two days at the same circuit...
Your reactions