THE HISTORIC QUATRE-BRAS FARM TO BE DESTROYED : what YOU can do !

[DominiqueT]

I have just heard that the government official of the Walloon Region, in charge of this matter, has given his approval for the destruction of the historic Quatre-Bras farm.

http://www.genappe.be/commune/services-communaux/urbanisme/ferme-des-quatre-bras-a-baisy-thy

This means that this official doesn't care at all about its historic worth !

Even less about the fact that the good is mentioned in the inventory of the "Monumental heritage of Belgium".

He has taken none of our 2008 and 2011 objections into account.

Genappe has introduced an appeal, but this has nothing to do with the historic aspect of the place.

This means that our two victories of 2008 and 2011 will have been in vain.

If a project is rejected, it's enough to reintroduce it until it is accepted.

http://napoleon-monuments.eu/MONUMENTSENPERIL/Quatre-Bras_EN.htm

[DominiqueT]

Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, I wrote to tell you that the government official of the Walloon Region, in charge of this matter, had given his approval for the destruction of the historic Quatre-Bras farm.  Many people, from all over the world, wrote to ask us what they could do. Many thanks to all of them.
It is impossible for us to hire a lawyer and bring the case before the Council of State (Conseil d'État).  For that reason, we think that the best thing that is left to be done is to write in great numbers to the competent authorities, the Walloon Government. You will find here http://napoleon-monuments.eu/MONUMENTSENPERIL/Quatre-Bras_EN.htm  the names and addresses of the three ministers in charge, respectively of town and country planning, cultural heritage and tourism.
All you have to do is to fill in your name and address (maybe your organisation), to adapt the letters if you want to, and to send them! (There is also a form on the "contact" page of each ministry, if you don’t want to post the letter.) Please share this news with potentially interested people.
These three letters are slightly different and put the accent on the minister's area of responsibility. Of course, I have already written, as has the president of the Association pour la Conservation des Monuments Napoléoniens (ACMN).  And I can tell you that the Duke of Wellington in person has done the same thing!
The more people will write, the more chance we have of getting a result.  Twice, in 2008 and in 2011, we have been able to save the building, why not a third time?  But to succeed, we have to act. So if you care about our common heritage, write!
Many thanks in advance.
Regards.
Dominique Timmermans
http://napoleon-monuments.eu/Napoleon1er/index_EN.htm

Ps: The same spirit of lucre that destroys our heritage can be found in the selling on eBay of bricks of Hougoumont farm! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Battle-of-Waterloo-Relic-Hougoumont-Napoleonic-Wars-1815-/111015221494?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item19d905d8f6

 
http://napoleon-monuments.eu/MONUMENTSENPERIL/Quatre-Bras_EN.htm

[DominiqueT]

If someone hasn't written yet, it's now or never !

I've put an English translation of the letter in French, so you can see our arguments.

http://napoleon-monuments.eu/MONUMENTSENPERIL/Quatre-Bras_EN.htm

Letters have to be there before the end of the month.

Thank you very much to all those who have done their duty !