Action store in Schoten faces legal battle and postpones grand opening due to permit issues.

Striking: the Schoten police provided assistance with the inspection. — © JAA

Shots –

The new Action along the Vaart in Schoten is fully furnished and fully loaded, but will not open on Saturday. Normally at 9 o’clock the well-known Dutch price breaker wanted to receive its first customers in the Zaatstraat, but the store suddenly received officials from the Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Vlaio) on Friday evening, accompanied by police inspectors.

The officials came to check Action’s permit. According to the municipality of Schoten, which, like the province, had refused the establishment of Action at this location but which previously permitted the retail space, the operation would be illegal. But Aneal SA, owner of the building, and Action Group itself did not seem to be bothered by this. In recent weeks, the store has been fully prepared for a grand opening. Even the first advertising brochures with great discounts have already been distributed

Normally, a store opening in a village is always accompanied by a ribbon cutting by the mayor and the big boss of the company. It was already clear that this scenario would not happen in Schoten. But now even general manager Joeri Sanders is staying at home. He would normally come to Schoten himself to wish the team of the more than two hundredth Belgian store in his retail network good luck and to greet the first customers.

Police

“We are sorry. The store won’t open tomorrow.” Impatient Schoten residents, and there are quite a few of them, heard this on Friday evening when they wanted to go shopping in the illuminated store. But the light was on to allow control. We were not told exactly what was checked and why the police provided assistance.

At Vlaio, a spokesperson knew about the existence of an ‘Action Schoten file’, but she could not tell us exactly how the fork was connected to the stem. They also remained silent at Action itself, despite our insistence. A spokesperson said that he was surprised by this government move and that the intention remains to open the store as soon as possible, but it could not be said when.

Alderman for Spatial Planning Paul De Swaef (N-VA) confronts megadiscouner Action. — © RR

Vacant Paalstraat

Mayor Maarten De Veuster (N-VA) and Alderman Paul De Swaef (N-VA) were busy on Friday evening honoring the sports champions of Schoten. We were also unable to obtain any further explanation from them about the steps taken for the time being. Action was discussed at the city council on Thursday evening after an interpellation by Erik Maes (CD&V). But Alderman Paul De Swaef, responsible for Spatial Planning, did not show his cards at the time.

He had previously stated that the expected influx of cars at this location would cause too many problems. A popular business at this location would also contribute to the vacancy of shop premises in the village centre.

Showdown

It is difficult to predict how this showdown between Schoten and Action will proceed. It seems that whoever has the best lawyers has the best chance of winning this battle. The role and responsibility of owner/landlord Aneal is unclear, but they have also refrained from commenting on that all along.

“They are playing with fire. We are going to play this hard,” Alderman Paul De Swaef had announced. He seems to have already won the first battle.

Joeri Sanders, Action’s general manager, would normally have come to Schoten on Saturday to attend the store opening. — © if

This week the store was fully prepared at the local Carrefour Market on Zaatstraat, including large announcement boards. — © JAA

2024-03-02 06:51:04
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