The owner of and chef at the Bruges Japanese restaurant "Tanuki", Ivan Verhelle is refusing to follow the city authorities’ order to remove the solar panels that he has installed on the roof of his business in the centre of Bruges. The city authorities’ demand that Mr Verhelle remove the solar panels from his restaurant on the Oude Gentweg has been upheld by the provincial cabinet. Nevertheless, Ivan Verhelle refuses to comply and affirms that he will not remove the solar panels.
Bruges restaurant owner refuses to remove solar panels from the roof of his business
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Last year, restaurateur Ivan Verhelle installed 12 solar panels on the roof of his restaurant in Bruges. He says that he decided to install the solar panels after the city alderman responsible for planning Franky Demon (CD&V) said that planning regulations with regard to solar panels in the city centre might be relaxed. Mr Demon was speaking at a New Year’s reception.
“As long as the solar panels were not visible from the street, there wouldn’t be an issue”, Mr Verhelle told VRT News.
No planning permission
However, although the solar panels are not visible from the Oude Gentweg, they are visible from the nearby Katelijnestraat. According to Alderman Demon says that this is contrary to the city’s planning regulations. The Flemish Heritage Agency also advised against issuing planning permission for the solar panels.
Appeal
The restaurant owner appealed against the city’s decision to the West Flanders provincial authorities. However, the city authorities’ decision was upheld. Nevertheless, Ivan Verhelle, does not intend to remove the solar panels. He can still appeal to the License Litigation Council. “We have hired a lawyer and we are examining all the possibilities. Even UNESCO sees no problem with them as UNESCO Flanders has confirmed to me by email”, Ivan Verhelle told VRT News.