The construction of a new stable for more than eight thousand pigs on the Rooije Hoefsedijk in Gemert can continue. The Council of State determined this on Wednesday. This seems to have come to an end for years of discussion. Local residents have been worried about these plans for years, because they would lead to odor nuisance and health problems. The Mens en Dier Foundation had brought the case on their behalf.
According to the Council of State, the pig farmer takes sufficient measures to limit the emissions of ammonia and nitrogen. He has already demolished his old pig stables on the same street. With the permission of the Council of State, the road is free to build a hypermodern complex a little further.
Doubling
The investment that is needed for this wants to earn back the family business of Janny and Joep Jans from the number of animals that will keep it to double.
The highest legal organ, the Netherlands, did comment on a decision of the mayor and aldermen. That should not have been provided in an environmental permit in December 2020, because it clashed with the then applicable zoning plan.
Alderman Willeke van Zeeland acknowledges on Wednesday that when the permit was determined ‘something went wrong’. That was then corrected by the city council.
Fierce discussions
The granting of the permit at the time led to fierce discussions in the city council and to social unrest in the residential area 700 meters from the planned pig farming. Residents started a petition that resulted in thousands of reactions.
“Intensive pig farming ensures poor air quality in this region,” said one of the initiators, Daniëlle Van Dijck. “The municipality must protect its inhabitants against even more pigs and therefore even more air pollution and odor nuisance.”
It is unclear whether the pig farmer will continue his plans after years of delay. De Boer and the Mens en Dier Foundation could not give any response on Wednesday.
In 2020, residents of Gemert explained why they are not waiting for a new pig farm:
