Brabant municipalities have plans to build at least 4328 new houses near goat farms, the province has calculated. And that while research shows that people who live near a goat farm have poorer health.
The province therefore wants municipalities to take more into account the consequences of the health of local residents of a goat holder. That is why she examined the housing plans of municipalities.
This research shows that Brabant municipalities have concrete plans to build 4328 homes within two kilometers away from a goat farm. According to RIVM, there is a greater health risk for local residents within that distance. For example, more people get pneumonia.
See here which municipalities want to build homes near a goat farm:
Although the province cannot enforce that municipalities are adjusting their plans, deputy Saskia Boelema (D66) hopes to find Health. “We see that there are plans to be built in places that, in the light of the RIVM investigation, can be considered less desirable. We therefore ask to explicitly take this into account when further elaboration of their plans.”
Recently a letter fell on the mat with exactly that call. “With that we want to draw attention to health risks,” says the deputy.
Extra measures
Boelema cannot take additional measures itself: weighing housing locations has been left to municipalities by the government. These must therefore take into account a healthy living environment when drawing up building plans.
The cabinet did not yet take measures as a result of the RIVM investigation and asked the Health Council for advice. This advice is only expected at the end of this year. This must show whether and how extra measures should be used.
Goat stop
Since 2017, no new goat farms are allowed in Brabant. But existing companies can still expand their number of animals.