To the dissatisfaction of farmers from the area of Geelbroek, the city council of Aa en Hunze gave the first impetus for relocating the Geelbroekerweg tonight.
The critical coalition parties Gemeentebelangen and VVD nevertheless ‘with great reluctance’ agreed to the start of the permit process, much to the disgust of the farmers.
The province of Drenthe applied for a permit to reroute the motorway. According to the province, this is necessary for the implementation of a nature project.
The project has been the subject of discussion for ten years between the province and a group of about ten farmers, united as Bezorgde Boeren Geelbroek.
Together with Staatsbosbeheer and Prolander, the province wants to make the nature in the area between Assen and Hooghalen wetter, in order to prevent the area from drying out in the future.
The farmers fear that not only nature, but also their farmland will become wetter. Attempts by the farmers and the province to come up with a solution together have failed so far.
In the meantime, the farmers are taking proceedings before the court against a water permit that has already been granted. Earlier, the farmers had already unsuccessfully objected to the water board Hunze en Aa’s.
The farmers planned to give their views on moving the road again tonight during the council meeting.
But when they learned that Gemeentebelangen and VVD would agree to start the permit process, the farmers stayed away.
Both parties were very understanding of the farmers’ cause at an earlier council meeting. Nevertheless, the VVD and Gemeentebelangen felt obliged to agree to the permit process tonight.
“We are extremely disappointed,” says farmer Evert Smeenge on behalf of the Bezorgde Boeren. “It makes no sense for us to come to the council meeting anymore.”
Group chairman Richard Heling of the VVD indicates that he would have preferred to see a solution to the concerns of the farmers had been found in the meantime.
“For the overall plan, agreement will have to be reached between the province and the farmers. We are very sorry that this has not happened yet.”
Councilor Greet Oosterhuis of coalition partner Gemeentebelangen is particularly critical. She blames the province for deliberately frustrating the matter. According to her, agreements made have even been thwarted.
“If you can arrange something at the front, you should try that too,” says Oosterhuis. “And not willingly and knowingly not enter into a conversation. We cannot escape the impression that the province deliberately allows it to take so long.”
Nevertheless, both parties reluctantly agree to the province’s wishes. The parties are not against the rewetting plan, nor are they against a diversion of the road.
Being obstructive in principle would probably only cause tensions with the province, since there are no substantive objections.
That is why the VVD and Gemeentebelangen agree, but not wholeheartedly. Oosterhuis: “We agree with great reluctance. We are very disappointed with this state of affairs.”