Knokke-Heist –
Mayor Leopold Lippens of Knokke-Heist threatens to take steps against the NMBS. According to Lippens, the transport company does not have a decent plan to take travelers safely from the interior to the coast. After the recent days, Lippens fears a new outbreak of the corona virus in his municipality. And so Lippens even plans to completely close Knokke-Heist during hot summer days. “And then there should be no more trains running here,” it sounds.
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These were not beautiful scenes in Knokke-Heist last week. The tropical summer weather caused a surprise and the necessary inconvenience in the fashionable seaside resort. The emergency services had the greatest difficulty with drunk visitors or people who already thought corona passed. Especially people from the North of France were targeted.
“They caused a nuisance and bothered the police, aid workers and other visitors. Due to their irresponsible behavior and failure to comply with the applicable measures, they cause enormous Covid risks, ”says Lippens. The mayor therefore warned that there is a zero tolerance, and that the police can immediately fine for nuisance or violations of the corona measures.
NMBS role
According to Lippens, NMBS also plays a major role in this surprise. The transport company does not have a decent plan to safely transport travelers to Knokke-Heist and by extension the coast. “The uncontrolled influx of visitors from major cities in Belgium and Northern France sometimes happened by car, but mainly by train,” said Lippens. “Those big cities fail to curtail demonstrations, party parties and other mass gatherings, thus endangering safety on a large scale. If those same people travel to Knokke-Heist afterwards, this will lead to irresponsible and undesirable risks. ”
According to the municipal authorities, SNCB does not provide additional security, enforcement of the corona measures, a reduced offer or an adjusted price. Breaches of the distance rules and not wearing a mask on the train were particularly striking.
“Otherwise no more trains to Knokke”
Lippens therefore wants a clear summer protocol. “We demand clarification from SNCB as soon as possible, and we will declare it to be in default if the protocol is delayed,” said the mayor. “And then trains no longer have to run to Knokke.”
The mayor therefore wants to avoid an outbreak of the corona virus in his municipality at all costs. To prevent a new surprise and a new source of infection, Lippens is even considering closing Knokke-Heist on peak days. ”The possibilities are being investigated to be able to close the municipality on the next very warm day. The number of targeted checks of both train travelers and travelers traveling by car is also being greatly increased, “says Lippens
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