An alcohol ban, a ‘square connector’ and an elaboration of infrastructure: new measures against nuisance on Antwerp’s Sint-Jansplein | Antwerp
AntwerpIt has been good with the nuisance open and around Sint-Jansplein, according to the Antwerp city council. That is why annual measures are taken to improve safety and quality of life in the neighbourhood. Most striking is the introduction of an alcohol ban on and around the square. This has been in effect since January 1, 2022.
Noise at night, cans of beer on the floor, shopkeepers who get into trouble, in front of the police and passers-by who are yelled at: it has been rife on and around Sint-Jansplein for years. But the many years experienced local residents so promptly went to the press.
Figures from the Antwerp local police showed that the neighbors’ grumbling was not exaggerated. In 2021, half of all reports on and around Sint-Jansplein were ‘nuisance-related’. One in three of these cases involved a drunk person. At the top brands, draws, night drawer, litter, fights involving drunks.
The neighborhood operation made more than 100 arrests in this neighborhood in 2021, which is an impressive number. We will keep it up
Alcohol prohibition
In order to improve safety and quality of life in the neighbourhood, the city decided to implement an alcohol ban on Sint-Jan from 1 January 2022. The introduction of alcohol-free zones was not new in the city at the time. In 2010, an alcohol ban was marked for the station environment and De Coninckplein. In 2018, an alcohol ban also came into effect in the immediate vicinity of Hortensia Sillisplein and Trapstraat.
The other city that also pays special attention, which goes both in the vicinity of premetro Elisabeth (Korte Zavelstraat, Dambruggestraat) edited list: drugs. For the environment, a permission for systematic identity checks is currently starting from the current one.
“We do not lose sight of the drug nuisance. Just like last year, we will start in 2022 on a structural approach to street deals and the upcoming events. The neighborhood operation made more than 100 arrests in this neighborhood in 2021, which is an impressive number. We will maintain that,” said Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA).
In addition to these methods, repressive measures we have tried to better ensure the achievement and them to the supply. Wanting their harrowing living conditions are unworthy of a big city.
Assistance
The city wants. also increasing the provision of care “In addition to better care and a repressive approach, we have been able to reach targeted nuisance offenders in the area and refer them to the referral system. Wanting their harrowing living conditions are unworthy of a big city,” said De Wever.
In addition to the money it makes itself available, the city is counting on Flemish support for the ‘Careful neighborhood’ project. This spring it will become clear that money will also come. Through this project, the city wants to set up two new employees to strengthen the social fabric of the neighbourhood. A so-called ‘square connector’ to better connect all partners in the neighbourhood, from residents to entrepreneurs and associations. And a second employee, a ‘peer coach’, to strengthen the ‘outreach’ to the precarious target group of square users.
Infrastructure interventions
In the first half of this year, the city will announce further interventions – especially to the infrastructure – on and around Sint-Jansplein. The three visitor entrances and the entrance to the underground parking garages will be decorated with stickers. Children from four primary schools in the neighborhood complete a total of eighty drawings that will be placed on the utility cupboards.
Furthermore, all light fixtures on Sint-Jansplein and in the side streets will be replaced by sustainable LED lighting, which improves the feeling of safety. APCOA, the operator of the underground car park, will also install LED strips in the entrances to the car park. The bicycle suggestion lane will also receive extra lighting at the beginning and the end, and Panamarenko’s artwork will be better illuminated.
Finally, the city will install larger garbage bins and decorate the green areas on the square. There will also be new cameras and research is being carried out to determine whether the urinal can be placed in a better place.
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