Council grants golf club 14 exemptions despite legal concerns

Ikast-Brande Municipal Council has granted 14 of 15 exemptions sought for Jens Poulsen’s Ikast Golf Club, despite officials warning that several conditions may breach laws and local planning rules, DR reported.

The golf course lies on a protected Ice Age hill, and the municipality believes protected nature covered by Section 3 of Denmark’s Nature Protection Act has been removed.

Several parts of the terrain have been raised by several metres. A construction road has also been built and a rainwater basin established.

Poulsen, a clothing billionaire and the project’s developer, attended Monday evening’s council meeting. He said he had not expected to “win 100-0” and was surprised by the decision.

Marie Mosegaard Mortensen, local chair of the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, said the council’s decision was unprecedented and disrespectful towards nature protection legislation. She said she would begin the appeals process.

Expert calls for ministerial intervention

Michael Tophøj Sørensen, an associate professor at Aalborg University’s Department of Sustainability and Planning, said he was also surprised by the council’s decision.

Municipal officials had recommended approving eight of the 15 matters and rejecting seven. The only matter rejected by the council concerned converting a small gravel pit into a lake.

The Central Denmark Region has required the area to be restored after use.

“I would expect the minister to intervene in the case, and in my assessment it would be well-founded if she did so,” Sørensen said.

Under Denmark’s Planning Act, the minister for towns and rural districts, Signe Munk of the Socialist People’s Party, can take over a municipal council’s powers in certain cases.

Such intervention is relatively unusual, Sørensen said, but would not be without precedent.