Vejen council reverses demolition decision for historic sports hall

Vejen’s newly elected council has overturned a previous decision to demolish the town’s 1953 sports hall, ordering a full review of the case following public opposition, state broadcaster DR reports.

The move comes after Mayor Christian Lund of the Liberal Party (Venstre) campaigned on revisiting the decision, citing widespread criticism over both the planned demolition and the lack of public consultation. “The important thing is that as a council, we listen to citizens’ experiences of insufficient dialogue,” Lund said.

Local residents, including Laila Højgaard Hansen and her daughter Line, have led efforts to preserve Vejen Hallen, arguing it remains functional and serves as a landmark. “The hall and its green surroundings are part of Vejen’s identity,” Line Højgaard Hansen said. “Why spend money on new things when this still works?”

The original demolition plan, approved by the previous council, faced backlash during last year’s municipal elections, with around 150 residents attending a public meeting and over 100 submitting formal objections. The Conservative Party, the sole opponent of the review, defended the earlier decision, with group leader Mike Straarup calling the reversal “regrettable” and warning against undermining long-term planning.

Lund has not yet stated his personal position on the hall’s future but emphasized the need to address public concerns. “If there’s a culture around Vejen Hallen and many want to preserve it, we must listen,” he said.