Café and restaurant owners are allowed to place a covered terrace until 31 March next year without having to apply for an environmental permit. The Flemish government decided this on Friday, Minister of the Environment Zuhal Demir announced on Sunday.
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Currently, there is only an exemption for a maximum of four months per year. However, many operators placed a construction after the lockdown last year. There was a risk that they would all have to be dismantled when the catering industry is allowed to reopen partially again. That is why an extension will be granted until March next year. These may be constructions on their own land, on another private domain or on the public domain, as long as the land owner agrees.
“Once the catering industry is allowed to open its doors again, we must do everything we can to give them more breathing space and less red tape,” says Demir.
Photo: BELGA
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