The city guides held a short action at the town hall. Because no one from the city council was present to receive their resignation letter, they collectively deposited it in the mailbox. “The museum operation must continue to exist. If that does not happen, we will permanently resign,” said Chantal Bracke of Stadsgidsen Izegem. “That is drastic, yes, but with people who do not want to listen, you have to take drastic measures.”
The decision to transform the museum is also causing political turmoil. During an extra municipal meeting earlier this week, opposition parties N-VA, CD&V, Vooruit and Groen donated their attendance fees to the heritage associations involved in Eperon d’Or. “The machine friends, the steam friends, the friends of the Izegem museums and the guides work every day to warmly welcome visitors,” says opposition councilor Kurt Himpe (N-VA). “It would be a great shame if all that work were lost.”