The Famiflora shopping complex was placed under seal Thursday morning by the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office, the judicial authority said in the afternoon, confirming information from several media. Several infractions, urban planning and environmental, had been noted for several months.
The Mouscron police intervened Thursday morning at the Famiflora garden complex on rue Jules Vantieghem in Mouscron. Seals were placed on the doors of the store by judicial decision of the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office. According to the judicial authority, several offenses have been observed for several months, without anything changing.
“At the start, there were town planning offenses and additions not included in the initial permit. For example, we have the extension of a car park, the placement of greenhouses and garden sheds, the creation of a chip shop , the extension of the restaurant over 500 square meters and all this without a permit. There had been discussions with the municipality and the region to regularize everything, but it did not come to fruition”, said Amélie Di Vincenzo, deputy prosecutor of Charleroi. The Charleroi public prosecutor’s office threatened, on two occasions, the establishment specializing in gardening with a placement under seal. “When the file arrived on my desk a year ago, I still had discussions with officials to reach a solution. On two occasions, I threatened the establishment of a placement under seal. “
In the meantime, environmental offenses have been observed. “There were installations which are not covered, this time, by the environmental permit. For example, there is a water catchment which captures more than what its permit authorizes, vehicles park just outside side when it is prohibited. Not to mention a waste incinerator which is also there without a permit.”
The non-compliance of the electrical installation is the last point that prompted the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office to act on the spot. “The electrical installation is not in compliance and there is also an issue with the fire safety plan. Every commercial structure must have one and here there is no report from a rescue zone for compliance. The last report still mentioned problems that have not been resolved. It was no longer possible to continue like this, as we arrive at a time of year when a large influx is expected”, detailed the Charleroi public prosecutor’s office.
The garden complex will remain closed until further notice. “It is difficult to say how long this situation can last. The ball is now in the court of trade officials,” concluded the deputy prosecutor.