Less nitrogen so that permits can be issued again for housing construction or agricultural innovations. The province has drawn up a whole plan for this. There is certainly no applause for that, but everyone still embraces it. Almost everyone.
Actually, no party in Drenthe politics thinks it is a perfect plan. And the massive stakeholders, from farmers to nature organizations, certainly don’t think it’s perfect either. But no one is going to shoot down the plan flat out. Apart from the largest party in Drenthe politics, the BBB.
Striking, because the provincial administrator on behalf of this party is responsible for this file: Henk Emmens. “This is not an agricultural, nitrogen or nature plan. This is a permit plan to get Drenthe off the nitrogen lock.” In short, the plan aims to reduce nitrogen emissions, restore nature and increase water quality.
Because for years now there has been little room for housing construction or agricultural innovations due to the nitrogen problems. To get rid of this lock, the province writes that a significant nitrogen reduction is necessary. The intention is to gradually emerge from the lockdown from next year.
From left to right there are points why they do not think the plan is flawless. The combination ‘not a perfect plan’ seems to occur more often in the entire debate than the word ‘nitrogen’. But everyone says they want to take a step forward and that the plan provides a basis. The members of the states point out that doing nothing now means even more decline and that this will not help the farmers. And this is also the case with engaging farmers’ organizations such as LTO Noord and nature organizations such as Natuurmonumenten.
There were ten speakers. There are never so many on one subject. From farmers who said that if this continues they can stop to farmers’ organizations who say: this will be very difficult, difficult and perhaps partly impossible. But really what it all comes down to is that licensing needs to get going again. And the nitrogen that is reduced must be legally binding. Then the farmers’ organizations join in.
The BBB has major problems with the plan. The largest party says that there are now too many uncertainties and assumptions and that the plan is not legally strong enough. “Maybe in three months,” says party leader Willem Vossebeld. Emmens looks forward with great confidence if a judge makes a ruling on this. “If we don’t do anything now, we are sure that we will no longer be able to grant permits at all,” Emmens responds.
Vossebeld: “We certainly shouldn’t add provincial plans on top of that.” “Unreasonable,” Emmens replies. “Because then it’s no longer your turn.” He says that there is a big difference between the Drenthe and the national plans. “Nationally, they are much more obligatory. This is much more voluntary, but not without obligation. But we don’t want any farms to disappear.”
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