The center square of the cycling track in Ostend could soon be occupied by a padel complex, with 6 outdoor and 6 indoor courts, in a 12-meter high building. A disaster for the cyclists who come to train there, they say. Filip Deschuytter, KVC Noordzeemeeuw: “If we provide training, we will never see the other side of the track again. Suppose someone falls behind the building of 12
meters high, it might take half a minute before we realize that someone has fallen, or before they say that someone has fallen. Then that half a minute might be too much.”
Shadow
Moreover, the extra shade from the building could make the track dangerously slippery. While safety is just an argument for coming to train here. Bjorn Leenknegt, chairman of Cycling West Flanders: “I think it is a very important item in youth cycling today that we can give our young people a taste of cycling in a safe way. And that is possible on such a cycling track. Now that is under pressure and is in danger.”