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The Flemish Council for Permit Disputes has annulled the permit of the supermarket that Jumbo opened in Genk on 2 July. The future of the establishment is thus suddenly highly uncertain.
“Currently operated illegally”
Early last month, Jumbo proudly opened the largest supermarket in Genk, but not everyone was too happy about it. A number of local residents feared inconveniences and the operator of the local Albert Heijn joined the protest, local newspaper Het Belang van Limburg reports.
For the plaintiffs’ lawyer, it is clear: “We have officially demanded that the supermarket close”, the newspaper quotes their lawyer Liesbeth Peeters. The annulment of the permit “means that the Jumbo establishment on Hasseltweg is currently being operated illegally”, Peeters added. In July, alderwoman Anniek Nagels stated that she would “uphold” any annulment.
Limburg supermarket war
The fate of the Jumbo store is now in the hands of the province, which must make a decision within three months. That could be a final denial, a new approval, or something in between – for example, a conditional grant. Therefore, today’s annulment does not mean that Jumbo will have to immediately demolish the establishment.
Earlier this week, another battle in the regional supermarket war returned to the national spotlight: in Oudsbergen, a neighbouring municipality, Carrefour also strongly opposes a local Jumbo opening. An open letter from the project developer of the site where Jumbo wants to operate caused a flare-up there.
