A recent survey among Pettemers would show that many are concerned about plans by the municipality of Schagen to keep the emergency shelter open for another five years and to transfer it to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). Almost all of the more than 300 respondents are against the takeover and do not feel heard.
It’s not just about feelings of insecurity, assures Marielle Veldman, who handed over the results of the survey this week to mayor Marjan van Kampen van Schagen. “It’s about a total package that makes people tired of it,” says Veldman. “For example, there have actually been incidents involving refugees. For example, a car has been broken into, there has been an attempted car theft and threatened a security guard.”
She continues: “In addition, the police are not able to patrol the village. They say you have to report suspicious situations. And then? Nothing happens anyway. And moreover, the residents are not included in the decision-making process. The village council is overruled.”
‘Now another’
Recently it came out that the emergency shelter may be transferred to the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and that it will then remain open for another five years. “But Petten has done enough, it is now someone else’s turn. In addition, they say that the shelter can continue for another five years, or less, but it can also take longer. The confidence is completely gone. Everyone thinks It’s already been decided, but we’re going to do everything we can.” She assures: “Not with aggression, but we keep talking to each other.”
The Pettemers fear that there will be no attention for them for the time being. “We had such great plans for new construction. But nobody wants to live next to an asylum seekers center.” In addition, it is negative for the tourist image of the village, says Veldman, and the number of refugees is too many for the number of inhabitants of the village. Veldman: “We have 1,600 inhabitants in Petten and on paper there are 225 people in the shelter. Although they do roam through the village. They are not obliged to stay and continue in groups by bus.”
Disappointed
This week, signs and banners were placed in the village to draw attention to the residents’ objections. “It’s literally and figuratively in our backyard,” says Veldman. “We are disappointed and emotionally affected. Is the mayor there for us?”
Before the summer holidays there would be an information meeting for the residents of the emergency shelter in Petten, but that will no longer work. It is now being lifted over the summer.