From January 2, De Wolden will receive asylum seekers in the Farmhouse recreation farm in Linde on Burgemeester Jansstraat. Last night, local residents were updated on this during an information meeting. The municipality wants to accommodate a maximum of 35 people at the site. That number is too much for the neighborhood.
Local residents want a maximum of fifteen asylum seekers to come. During the meeting, those present said that they think Linde is too small to accommodate large groups of refugees. Mayor Inge Nieuwenhuizen, who was present at the meeting, says she understands the concerns. The municipality will therefore investigate whether the number can be adjusted downwards.
The local residents also want agreements to be made. The intention is that the refugees will be housed in the recreation farm until March 31. According to the neighborhood, that should also be the final end date for the shelter. That promise was made by the mayor. Only families consisting of women with children will be located on the site. Single men are not accommodated.
The municipality also takes security measures to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The asylum seekers must sign a document stating that they comply with the house rules. In addition, a location manager is present daily. If the neighborhood wants to report something or has questions, they can contact that person. Security guards are present day and night to keep an eye on things.
Each municipality has agreed to set up an emergency shelter to relieve the pressure on the application center in Ter Apel. The agreement was to realize this before 1 October. De Wolden was therefore behind schedule. In total, the municipality is expected to realize about fifty places for emergency shelter.
This sometimes turns out to be more difficult than expected. De Wolden has looked at several locations in recent weeks, but often without success. With the recreation farm, a first shelter has been created.