The pole with the siren for the air-raid alarm in Ulvenhout has barely been in its new location for a month or there has already been thunder. Local residents were shocked by the noise on Monday and also think that the pole does not fit in their environment. For example, the air raid alarm will now go off next to a primary school, while a daycare center was previously a reason to move things. “As local residents, we are not done with it yet,” says a local resident.
“Good heavens, this is terrible”, Swaas van Heck shouts right through the noise. She looks with amazement from her garden at the long pole with siren that is wailing right next to her house. It is the first time that the air alarm in Ulvenhout is tested at the new location on the first Monday of the month.
“This is really not normal,” she continues when the one minute and twenty-six seconds are up. “I understand that there should be such a thing, but not that it should be so close to a house, school or after-school care. I was shocked, because I did not think the noise would be so loud. Here are We as local residents are not done yet.”
“It is very annoying, but it is precisely the intention that the air alarm causes a nuisance.”
And so there remains a fuss about the pole with siren that should warn Ulvenhout in the event of disasters and riots. Because noise was there before. The previous location of the air-raid alarm was only 300 meters away at the Pekhoeve village hall and Boefies & (B)engeltjes daycare centre. After protests, it was moved to the spot next to the roundabout at the Maria Chapel in early June.
A big surprise for Swaas van Heck when she returned from vacation. Unlike the neighbours, she was not informed. Although she received an apology from the municipality for this, she does not understand the decision.
“The pole was moved from the Pekhoeve to this place because it caused a nuisance for the childcare, the animals, the high trees and the children’s farm as cultural heritage. But now it is opposite the primary school, a BSO, between the high trees and at the Maria chapel. So the argumentation is not correct.”
“It is very annoying, but it is precisely the intention that the air alarm causes a nuisance,” explains a spokesperson for the municipality of Breda. “There are certain legal requirements and, moreover, the location was established in consultation with the Village Council.”
“The value of my house is declining.”
“The municipality is hiding behind the Village Council,” says local resident Nol van Rossum. “They have conducted a survey, but we still don’t know what the result is. But the pole is already there. to make.”
Whether that is the case is still somewhat unclear. It is not only about the sound, but also about the sight. Because there is now an ugly pole in front of an old mill. “The value of my house is decreasing as a result,” thinks Van Rossum. “I’m going to think about whether I’m taking legal action.”
At the adjacent primary school, the children are now playing in peace again in the schoolyard. Of course they also thought the air raid alarm was very loud, but they had been warned by the teacher. “I actually like it,” says Renske. “I can then scream and shout nice and loud without anyone hearing me.” Maybe a good tip for the locals.
