18 November 2024

Urgent question posed by Councillor Linda Gaasch

Following the application for a permit to extend the plant operated by the Minett Kompost Syndicate – of which the City of Luxembourg is a member – it was found that water carrying a pollution load estimated at between 20,000 and 55,000 population equivalents had been allowed to enter the sewer system in Mondercange and, from there, the Schifflange water treatment plant, without the proper authorisation. As some of this water couldn't be contained in a retention basin, it was discharged into a watercourse, causing the watercourse to become polluted. As such, the Intermunicipal Syndicate for Ecological Affairs (Syndicat intercommunal à vocation écologique – SIVEC) sent the Minett Kompost Syndicate an invoice in the amount of €1.4 million a year for the next three years.

• What are the environmental consequences of this situation?
• What steps are being taken to remedy this situation? When can we expect this situation to be remedied?
• Was the City of Luxembourg aware of the situation, and of the fact that proper authorisation had not been obtained, when it joined the Minett Kompost Syndicate?
• What are the financial implications of SIVEC's decision for the City of Luxembourg?
• Will this affect Minett Kompost's future undertakings and the City of Luxembourg's involvement with Minett Kompost?

Response provided by Alderman Patrick Goldschmidt

Councillor Gaasch raised this issue a month ago. The issue was raised last week at a meeting of the Minett Kompost's board of directors. Councillor Gaasch also attended that meeting on behalf of the City of Luxembourg, but it goes without saying that we will also provide the Municipal Council with the required answers.

According to Minett Kompost, there was no environmental impact, since the pressate is channelled directly to the Schifflange water treatment plant via the collector drain in Monnerich. This situation has existed since the 1990s. A permit was granted by the Water Management Authority (Administration de la gestion de l'eau) in 2003. A new law was introduced in 2008. If that law had existed before 2008, we would not have been in compliance. In 2013, Minett Kompost commissioned the methanisation plant, which was also authorised. Discussions as to whether this was the right way to do things began only a few years ago, before the COVID pandemic. After the pandemic, SIVEC said that a solution had to be found for the pressate, and that Minett Kompost's financial contribution should be adjusted to accurately reflect the number of inhabitants. Starting in 2025, Minett-Kompost will pay SIVEC €1.4 million a year – this is not a penalty, and the payment is not retroactive. Of that amount, the City of Luxembourg will pay around €200,000 a year. Most municipalities are members of both SIVEC and Minett Kompost and, as such, can recoup some of the money. However, this is not the case for the City of Luxembourg and other municipalities that they are not members of SIVEC. It was agreed that 25,000 population equivalents would be used as the basis for calculation purposes.

The problem is that the collector drain has been undersized for quite some time. When it rains a lot, the basin eventually overflows. The water does not only come from Minett Kompost. It also comes from the municipalities that are members of Minett Kompost, and many of them do not have separate stormwater and wastewater networks. A solution has been proposed. It entails using the pressate as a fertiliser for agriculture. This will entail building storage tanks, since the pressate can only be used during the vegetative phase – that is to say, when fertilisation is authorised. The authorisation application will soon be submitted to the Water Management Authority. Once authorisation has been obtained, construction of the storage tanks can begin. The project would then be completed within three years.

Question posed by Councillor François Benoy

The Stade de Luxembourg was officially opened three years ago. Next to the stadium, there is a car park that can be used as a multi-purpose space for major events. However, to the best of my knowledge, this space has never been used for anything other than parking.

• Has this space ever been used for events? If so, could you please elaborate? If not, why not?
• What was the extra cost incurred to develop this multi-functional space (discounting the car park)?
• Given the exceptional location of this space, why doesn't the College of Aldermen do more to promote it? What sort of events could the space be used for? What would be the terms and conditions governing the rental of the space?

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

You are quite right: the car park can also be used for events catering for up to 12,562 persons (or with seating for 2,400 persons). Several events have already been held there, including the start of the 2022 Tour de Luxembourg cycling race, the Ceratizit Festival Elsy Jacobs (2023), the "Fête du vélo – Vélo pour tous" / Be active night (2021), and the Spiridon Bëschlaf.

According to the updated estimate, the extra costs incurred to develop the car park as a multi-purpose space amounted to €1,890,594.29, but the final figure has yet to be determined.

There are several reasons why no concerts or similar events have been held there so far. First of all, holding an event in this space and in the stadium at the same time is impossible. Second, priority is always given to sporting events (e.g. football and rugby). And finally, due to UEFA's and FIFA's match schedules, planning events over the long term is not feasible.

Nevertheless, we intend to make more use of this space to put on events during periods when football matches are less frequent, such as in winter. For instance, we think that it could be a good venue for the "Cirque de l'Avent" (Advent Circus) in the future (instead of Champ du Glacis). As such, the technical infrastructure in the space adjacent to the stadium will be upgraded – which is not a major undertaking – to ensure that all the required amenities are available, such as lighting and heating, for example.

Urgent question posed by Councillor François Benoy

It has come to my attention that this year, in addition to paying the €1,500 pitch fee to operate a chalet at the city's Christmas Market, certain so-called trinket vendors were required to rent a chalet from the City of Luxembourg for the price of €1,000 per linear metre, and can no longer use their own chalets. To make matters worse, these vendors were not even notified of this requirement in advance.

• Can you confirm this?
• What is the reason for this new requirement, which entails considerable additional costs for the vendors concerned?
• How many vendors are affected by this measure?
• Were there any cancellations? If so, how many?
• Are there any other changes affecting vendors this year?

Response provided by Alderman Patrick Goldschmidt

I resent the veiled insinuations contained in this question, especially since 99% of what Councillor Benoy said is totally untrue. In the City of Luxembourg's tax regulations (règlement-taxe), which anyone can view easily on www.vdl.lu, it can be easily confirmed that the pitch fee for the Christmas Market is not as high as the figure that was mentioned in Councillor Benoy's question. In fact, the actual amount of the pitch fee is just a few hundred euros (for a three- or six-metre-long stall).

Vendors are more than welcome to use their own stalls, provided they meet the City of Luxembourg's quality requirements, in keeping with our policy on hosting a beautiful Christmas Market in the heart of Luxembourg City. Over the past few years, we have noticed that some vendors do not have their own stalls, which is why the City rents three- and six-metre-long stalls, and then rents them out to vendors at the same price that the City paid to rent them. This is also the case for decorations. The cost to rent a three-metre-long stall is €1,150, and to rent a six-metre-long stall the cost is €2,500. On top of that, vendors are charged for decorations, which are rented at €163.48 per linear metre.

So, for a six-metre-long stand, for the entire duration of the Christmas market, which is more than 40 days long, the total cost, including the pitch fee, is around €4,000. This works out to less than €100 per linear metre per day – without having to bring your own stall and arranging for help to set it up and take it down.

This year, there is a new vendor, who has rented a stall from the City. In all, there are 13 six-metre-long stalls and 18 three-metre-long stalls. In October 2023, we told a vendor that their stall was no longer suitable, but that they could use it again. This year, that vendor immediately agreed to rent a stall from the City, and they are very happy with it.

To all Christmas Market vendors, I wish you a prosperous season, and to all of those who visit the Christmas Market – which will be open until 31 December – I hope you have a wonderful time.

Urgent question posed by Councillor Linda Gaasch

Regarding the works being carried out in Rue Godchaux, several residents have drawn our attention to the fact that a century-old Douglas fir tree, which is cherished by local residents and is a refuge for birds, squirrels and other species, is to be cut down. This raises the question of whether other trees in the same row of trees, most notably the chestnut trees, are also threatened.

Madam Mayor, at the Municipal Council meeting held on 12 July 2021, in response to Councillor Brömmel's question about the century-old trees near 66, rue de la Montagne in Hamm – the Telstar scouts group's future home – and specifically about a cedar tree in the vicinity, you personally spoke out in favour of saving these trees. To quote you, Madam Mayor: "diversity in nature should be considered as a form of enrichment."

1. Is it actually true that this old Douglas fir is to be felled? If so, as part of which project, and why?
2. What measures have been taken to save this tree? What alternatives have been considered?
3. What about the other trees in this row of trees? Have any of the trees already been cut down? Are there plans to cut down any other trees? What measures have been taken to safeguard the trees in this row of trees?
4. How many trees were cut down to build the scouts' home?

Response provided by Alderwoman Simone Beissel

Let me reassure Councillor Gaasch: on 23 October 2024, when the department in question presented its plans for future works to the College of Aldermen, the College immediately decided to have them review their plans, with a view to preserving the old Douglas fir standing in the middle of the area where the works are being carried out. The College of Aldermen firmly believes that it is important to preserve all trees, whenever possible. The challenge now is to preserve the tree in question, while at the same time installing the required sewer system infrastructure on the site.

Six trees in the vicinity of the scouts' home have been cut down. A number of in-depth studies had been conducted beforehand – including the establishment of a biotope map, a study on local flora and fauna, ornithological screening, and a study on local bats – and once those studies had been completed, the City of Luxembourg applied for and obtained the required permit from the Environment Agency (Administration de l'environnement). According to the terms of a gentlemen's agreement, the six trees that could not be preserved will either be replaced – whenever possible – or compensated for using the eco-point system.

Question posed by Councillor Linda Gaasch

I hope that the College of Aldermen will make sure that no trees will have to be cut down when the plans are revised.

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

We are very much attached to all aspects of nature, be it trees, animals, or clean water. I can assure you that the College of Aldermen always endeavours to seek the best solution, as dictated by their conscience.

Question posed by Councillor Linda Gaasch

Will the revised plans be presented to the Municipal Council?

Response provided by Mayor Lydie Polfer

The plans will not be presented to the Municipal Council, but we will gladly let you know what has been decided.