Officials say Ikast golf project breaches law on 15 points

A large golf course project near Ikast breaches the law on 15 points, according to municipal officials, DR reports. Two committees in Ikast-Brande Municipality nevertheless voted to grant exemptions for the project.

Officials said seven of the breaches could not be exempted. However, a majority on both committees voted in favour of granting the exemptions. Only the two committee chairs voted against.

Kasper Pauli Pedersen of the Social Democratic Party, deputy mayor and chair of the Climate, Nature and Sustainability Committee, said the vote indicated that the exemptions would probably also receive support from the Finance Committee and, ultimately, the municipal council.

“It is likely that a majority on the municipal council will stick to its position and knowingly run a red light. That will end in a lengthy appeals process,” he said.

The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, an environmental organisation, has already said it will appeal if the municipal council grants the exemptions.

Golf course owner wants cooperation

Golf course owner Jens Poulsen, who is also chief executive of DK Company in Ikast, said he did not believe the dispute needed to become so heated.

He said he found it difficult to recognise the protected nature areas covered by Section 3 of the Nature Protection Act, which are the main focus of the conservation organisation and municipal officials. The provision protects around 10 per cent of Denmark’s land, including lakes, marshes, freshwater meadows, salt meadows, heathland, grassland and watercourses.

“If golf has been played there for the past 20 years, is it then Section 3 nature? Normally, when it is mown grass and a golf course, it is not Section 3 nature. But if it is, then we will have to remove the 810 metres along the edge that we assume are covered,” he said.