Minister plans metro parties

15 February 2005

BRUSSELS – Metro travellers could soon be bopping to the latest tunes thanks to plans by the Brussels mobility minister to host underground parties.

Pascal Smet has launched an initiative to hold art exhibitions and parties in usused space in metro stations.

The minister has asked the Brussels region, in conjunction with the transport authority STIB, to allow young artists, for example, to exhibit their works for free in metro stations.

But he announced even more ambitious plans for cavernous rooms in some metro stations that have lain unused since the 1970s.

The vast spaces in metro stations like Anneessens, Albert, Simonis, Midi and Louise could be used to host massive parties for young revellers, said Smet.

Emergency exits are already in place and noise can easily be contained in the large underground rooms, he pointed out.

The Brussels party scene has already applauded the initiative but STIB is holding fire for the moment.

Although the transport authorities are not opposed to the idea, they have drawn the minister’s attention to certain technical difficulties.

Opposition politicians have, however, been quick to pour cold water on the party plans.

If the concept was that simple, STIB would have done it years ago, said Denis Grimberghs, chief of the French speaking Christian Social party (CDH).

This is just the 1,883rd bright idea from Pascal Smet that has been badly thought through, said the head of the centre-right Mouvement Reformateur (MR) Jacques Simonet, adding that it would spark security and noise concerns.

Subject: Belgian news