The protest of the residents of Meerwijk in Haarlem against plans by the municipality in which many parking spaces in the neighborhood disappear, is having a positive effect on them. Municipal councilor Bas van Leeuwen, who was present on behalf of D66 at the protest on Leonardo Davinciplein, has changed his mind. “He said that the plans are gone. I still can’t believe it,” says Coby Tigchelaar on behalf of the Meerwijk action group.
About 100 residents from the neighborhood had come to the protest this afternoon. They were presented with a form from the Meerwijk action group on which they could express their opposition to the current plans for the redevelopment. “The idea was that they would send it to the municipality, but that is no longer necessary now. Bas van Leeuwen of D66 has promised us that it will not go ahead,” says Tigchelaar, who can barely comprehend it.
D66
Bas van Leeuwen of D66 says in a response to NH Nieuws/H105 that it does not feel right to continue with the current plans. “At the beginning we said that we didn’t want to spend 4 or 10 million, but 24 million euros for the redevelopment of the district, because nothing had been done about it for 40 years. And then you actually say to the inhabitants: ‘here have we have a beautiful gift’. While the residents look at the gift and actually say, but we don’t want this.”
The plans for Meerwijk would be discussed in the committee meeting next Thursday, but that is not happening now. The entire opposition was already against the plans and now that D66, which is in the coalition, is also against the current plans, the topic for next Thursday will be deleted. D66 wants the new council to look at the plans again after the municipal elections. “There are now far too many questions to discuss it in committee now.”
Coby Tigchelaar is very relieved after a big battle of months. “I get so many reactions from people who are concerned about the disappearance of hundreds of parking spaces in our neighborhood. If it is really gone, that is of course very nice. But first I have to see it, then believe it.”
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