© Robin Fasseur
Shots –
As announced on Friday evening, the new Action branch on the canal in Schoten did not open. In the meantime, the Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Vlaio) has provided an explanation of the imposed opening ban.
“Vlaio was informed on Thursday by the municipal council of Schoten that Action was planning to open a new store without the necessary socio-economic permit,” says communications manager Karolien Goossens at the Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Vlaio), an institution of the Flemish government.
“This would be contrary to the integral commercial establishment policy decree. Vlaio is responsible for enforcing this decree, and so the Vlaio inspection service went on site on Friday to make the necessary findings. Since the municipal council’s report turned out to be correct, a cease and desist order was issued after an inspection. This means that no retail activities may be carried out in a store area of more than 524 square meters.
The strike order must be ratified by the leading official of Vlaio within ten days. But if the above regulations are indeed in force here, things don’t look so good for Action. The store on the canal has a net floor area of 833 square meters.
© Robin Fasseur
Wet
Alderman for Spatial Planning Paul De Swaef (N-VA) emphasizes that the local government is very supportive of entrepreneurs. “But the law is the law and Action must also adhere to it. Although I do take into account the possibility that the Dutch retail chain was misled by the owner of the building, who is also the landlord of this retail property. In any case, this is a stupid way to act.”
Despite the extensive attention that the announced and then hastily postponed opening received in the media and on social media groups, about ten people stood in front of the closed door on Saturday. They apparently wanted to see with their own eyes that Action remained hermetically closed.
At Action we have so far received no response about what the retail chain now plans to do with its fully equipped and fully loaded store in Schoten near the canal. The people in Schoten are divided about the matter. Josephine Van Leuven, who had taken a shopping cart in vain, thinks it is a dirty trick for the municipality.