The municipality of Maashorst does not want the Defense training ground in Reek to be used as an extra landing site for helicopters. The College of Mayor and Aldermen informed the Minister of Defense in a letter. The municipality is concerned that the plans lead to more nuisance for residents.
It is not yet certain that the training ground in Reek will be designated as a landing site, but the village is on a list of options. The municipality opposes this possibility because it will cause even more nuisance in the region where Volkel Air Base is located.
“Although the Ministry of Defense previously confirmed that the airbase in Volkel and the spring area in Reek are no longer in the picture as expansion locations, there are some parts that may lead to more nuisance,” Mayor Hans van der Pas tells DTV News. “That is why we use the possibility of submitting an opinion (ed. Objection) to the draft policy vision.”
150 helicopters
The municipality is not happy with the ministry’s plan to have more helicopters land in Reek. According to Van der Pas, residents of Volkel and Reek already experienced nuisance. “Adding up to 150 helicopter landings, with the associated flight movements, causes even more nuisance on the living situation of our residents. We believe that the spring area in Reek is not suitable for designating as one of the 32 landing places for helicopters.”
“We think it is important to emphasize that our residents are already experiencing a lot of nuisance from both defense areas,” adds Alderman of Environment Jeroen van den Heuvel. “Every small addition would only increase that nuisance. We believe that the municipality of Maashorst is already doing its bit sufficiently. That is the scope of our view.”
Stakeholders were able to make their objections known until July 9. The ministry must take into account those responses in the final decision.