Ghent traffic plan petition gains enough signatures for referendum
A referendum could take place on Ghent’s new mobility plan, which is set to begin next month
26,000 signatures
The group, which has the backing of N-VA, has announced that it has the legal minimum of signatures required by law – 26,000 or 10% of the city’s population, plus margin to cover any duplicate signatures. Opposition leader Elke Sleurs said that the petition will be handed over on Friday.
Bracke said the petition would be accepted by her and mayor Daniël Termont, at which point a count will begin, with signatures compared to the population register. The process will take at least four weeks.
Assuming there are enough signatures, a referendum will be discussed at the city council meeting scheduled for 22 May. The question proposed is: Do you think that Ghent and the people of Ghent will be better served by the proposed traffic plan – yes or no?
Before any vote takes place, the city will produce a brochure setting out the arguments for and against the new mobility plan, which sees much more of the city centre pedestrianised and changes some streets into one-way. The goal of the plan is to encourage people to take public transport rather than driving to the centre of the city.
The petition will, in any case, have no effect on the implementation of the traffic plan, which is scheduled for 3 April.
Photo courtesy Stad Gent
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