Plans for asylum center in Nieuwkerke? ‘It’s a bad thing for both those people and the local population’

The monastery has been empty for some time and Fedasil would have asked the new owner to house an asylum center with 130 reception places.

“We have no problem with the fact that shelter is provided for refugees. But a village like Nieuwkerke with less than 1500 inhabitants does not have the capacity to receive a large number of refugees,” the N-VA board said. of Ypres district.

“Too few facilities”

According to the party, Nieuwkerke has too few facilities. “It will be an immense task for the schools in the area to accommodate the children correctly without adversely affecting the educational level of the local children. Will additional teachers and/or resources be provided to meet the additional needs and challenges? “How will people move within the region? Heuvelland and the surrounding area are already getting off badly as far as public transport is concerned.”

They ask that the government reconsider the decision. “This is a bad thing for both the people in the possible shelter and the local population.”

The mayor of Heuvelland neither confirms nor denies any plans.