The renovation of the Ogterop theater in Meppel is currently at a standstill. We are waiting for almost seven million euros.
Work on the theater is expected to start at the beginning of this year. But there is little to no activity to be spotted at the building. Almost the entire theater will be demolished, only the large theater hall will remain standing. Everything around it will be new construction. But the project is 6.8 million euros more expensive, and local politics must still give approval to release this extra money.
The reason for the increase in costs is that the quotation from the only contractor interested in the project was higher than the municipality expected. The underlying reasons are mainly that wages have risen and materials have become more expensive, as a result of the geopolitical situation.
The costs for the theater technical investment are also more expensive. All in all, it is estimated that 30.4 million euros will be needed for the renovation, instead of the original 23.4 million euros.
It means that the entire project is now at a standstill. The contractor is waiting for a decision from the municipality. In June, local politicians were supposed to discuss and make a decision about the extra money, but that has also been postponed due to the negotiations for a new coalition.
Sterk Meppel, VVD and CDA hope to reach a coalition agreement by mid-June. The parties have now asked the current council not to make proposals about Ogterop. This means that a choice about the 6.8 million euros will most likely only be made after the summer holidays.
If the municipal council does not agree to the money, there is a chance that the theater will not be renovated and that Meppel will no longer have a theater. The current building has been used up and no longer meets the current (safety) requirements.
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