Outgoing Infrastructure Minister Robert Tieman (BBB) must better substantiate the airport decision to extend opening hours at Groningen Airport Eelde. The Council of State writes this in an advice to the minister.
For example, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management must address the issue of the extent to which extended opening hours at Eelde airport are in proportion to the right of local residents to protection of private life. According to the Council of State, this motivation is lacking in the proposed airport decision.
Earlier this year it was announced that the government wants to amend the airport decision for Eelde so that passenger flights can depart from 6 a.m. on weekdays and land until midnight. Flights are now allowed between 6:30 AM and 11:00 PM. On weekends and public holidays, the start time remains 7:30 am, but planes can land at the airport until midnight.
In the advice, the Council states that the explanation of the draft decision is inadequate on a critical point: the relationship with the fundamental rights of citizens. The Council points out that an extension of opening hours, with possible additional noise pollution, will affect the living enjoyment of local residents.
The ministry must demonstrate that it is well substantiated why the social benefits of this extension of opening hours outweigh the impact on the living environment. According to the Council of State, this substantiation is now lacking.
The advice is a boost for the Association of Local Residents at Eelde Airport (VOLE), which has been fighting against new developments at the airport for years and would prefer to see Eelde closed. A group of Glimmen residents are also against expanding opening hours.
The cabinet is not obliged to adopt the advice of the Council of State.
Groningen Airport Eelde hopes that the cabinet will ultimately agree to an extension of opening hours. Director Meiltje de Groot previously announced that with longer opening hours the airport can accommodate up to 150 extra flights per year at Drenthe airport. This option should entice tour operators and airlines to fly from Eelde to new destinations in Europe.
New connections and more flights mean extra income that the airport can put to good use. The shareholders, the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, previously announced that they would once again support the airport with millions of euros. Eelde needs that money to continue to exist.
De Groot previously announced that she hopes that the cabinet will come up with a final airport decision by the end of this year. The subject is not on the list of potentially controversial decisions. This means that an outgoing cabinet can also submit a final airport decision to the House of Representatives.