Water management syndicate Sebes is opposing plans to list part of its former Esch-sur-Sûre water plant as a national monument, warning the move might clash with water laws and future operational needs.
The Ministry of Culture has indicated it is, in principle, willing to respond positively to a request from the municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre to classify part of the old building, in particular the former entrance, as a national monument. Sebes, however, is firmly opposed.
The organisation argues that such a classification would even breach the very law on which Sebes itself is founded, as this clearly states that the old building must be demolished. The background is that once the current site at Eschdorf reaches the end of its lifecycle, operations are intended to return to the former site where a new facility would be built, they explained.
Sebes stated that the building also lies within a Level 1 protection zone, meaning only activities directly related to drinking water treatment are permitted there. Regardless of these points, Sebes president André Weidenhaupt said he could not understand the idea of classifying parts of the structure.
He explained that the section proposed for protection was the entrance area of the old plant, with its monumental staircase. According to him, this feature had been designed by engineers rather than architects, a fact not correctly reflected in the opinion issued by the Commission of National Heritage (COPAC). Weidenhaupt criticised the process, saying that without consulting the operator, COPAC's view could not be properly informed.
Sebes also feels that it has not been sufficiently involved by Culture Minister Eric Thill. Although there had been one exchange, Weidenhaupt said that once the procedure was launched, Sebes was not consulted further.
He added that the Ministry had only informed Sebes after writing to the Ministry of Finance. Sebes responded by stating it should have been consulted directly and is still awaiting a reply. Weidenhaupt explained further that the organisation also contacted the Finance Ministry, urging it to issue a negative opinion on the classification.
Finance Minister Gilles Roth is involved as the state owns the land at Esch-sur-Sûre, although Sebes holds building rights and owns the structures under a 1962 law. The organisation has also been in touch with Environment Minister Serge Wilmes and Minister of Home Affairs Léon Gloden, both of whom, according to Weidenhaupt, advised Thill not to proceed with classification.
The municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre justified its request partly by suggesting the site could host a water discovery centre. One of the driving forces behind such a centre is the Upper Sûre Nature Park.
However, its president Jeff Gangler said finding a location was not currently the park's top priority. He added that in territorial planning discussions, the park had focused instead on the content and concept of such a centre, which should serve the whole region. Gangler stated that the question of suitable buildings would come later. He added that the park, as a mixed syndicate, would not take a position on the classification of this specific building.
It was suggested that the centre could also be spread across several sites around the Upper Sûre lake. Sebes said it remained open to such a project but stressed it could not be located on its own site because of the legal framework.
The organisation explained that if the building were classified nonetheless, it could not be opened to the public, would require around half a million euros annually for upkeep, and would reduce the space available for producing the necessary quantities of drinking water.
Both Sebes and the Nature Park have suggested that elements of the former building deemed worth preserving could instead be dismantled and made accessible to the public at another location. Whether this would still be possible after a heritage listing, however, remains uncertain, they concluded.
