Councilor Harry Rotgans leaves no doubt about it: the reception of Ukrainian displaced persons in Purmerend will be possible. The only question is how many war refugees. The municipal council may decide that a maximum of 750 instead of 1,500 refugees will be in one location, in a meadow in Purmer South. This became apparent last night during the committee meeting on the controversial shelter. About ten thousand people signed a petition against the shelter.
Just like last week at the consultation evening, the town hall was packed. Hundreds of residents who are completely against the shelter came to follow the meeting. They are against the reception of refugees because they believe that the municipality must first do something about the enormous housing shortage. “There are no affordable houses and 20-year waiting lists for our residents and children. And there is a home for those refugees,” was how a commenter expressed the criticism of many thousands of Purmerend residents last week.
“We can handle this”
Of the eleven parties in the municipal council, a number of parties are against the arrival of a shelter for Ukrainians. “We have already captured 540, and that is enough,” says Nicole Moinet of the PVV. And Harry Populier of PB21 also believes that a limit has been reached. “Our people have also been displaced and have been waiting for years for a home.” He can count on loud support from those present. For example, any comment that points the proposal to the trash bin is loudly applauded by the audience present.
Too many
Many parties have questions about the location – a meadow in Purmer South – and especially the size. The reception of a maximum of 1,500 refugees is seen as too many. This means enormous pressure on local residents and all kinds of social facilities. “What about healthcare? The general practitioners are already overloaded,” asks Barbara Jonk of the Beemster City Party.
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The councilor explains that it is better to have shelter concentrated in one location. “If you have multiple locations, it’s complicated, it takes a long time to find them and you need a lot more staff.” A majority of the council is not really convinced.
Councilor Rotgans also believes that Purmerend has a moral obligation to realize the shelter. “We have agreed on this in the region. Zaanstad has many asylum seekers, the smaller municipalities receive the minors and we receive the Ukrainians.” He emphasizes once again that it only concerns status holders and that it will not be an AZC. “We can handle this,” he says, “and if we don’t want to do this, we have to go backto the region. That is not a pleasant message.”
A majority says they will discuss the proposal within their own party. A small number reject it out of hand. The shelter will be discussed again in the municipal council on November 30.