A group of residents along Ericasestraat in Erica continue to object to the permit for a contracting and earthmoving company in their street. Local residents have been annoyed for years by what one of them describes as an ‘illegal industrial estate’ on a plot of land with an agricultural destination. “The many traffic movements and the associated noise pollution adversely affect the enjoyment of living,” is their fear.
One of the local residents, Bert Moolhuizen, spoke on behalf of the neighborhood (three to four households) during a committee meeting two years ago. He lives opposite the company, which is still registered on paper as an agricultural enterprise.
“But that image was absolutely not given to the neighbor across the street, Jeroen Kamst, in recent years,” said Moolhuizen. “A storage of asphalt granulate, units and thousands of cubic meters of sand,” he noted. “This results in a lot of freight transport coming and going. From early morning until late in the evening.” According to Moolhuizen, this was absolutely unacceptable. “We live here in the countryside, and not on an industrial estate.”
The local residents then decided to submit enforcement requests to the municipality. The units, the sand storage and a meters-high illegal transmission tower disappeared. Kamst was imposed a penalty, after which he submitted a request to the municipality with the aim of legalizing his activities.
There has now been an amended application, with a limited number of activities. To the horror of the residents, the sand storage is also part of this. “Because that is what bothers us the most,” Moolhuizen explains. “Because that was the main focus in terms of the nuisance experienced.”
The fear in the neighborhood also lies in the fact that things will go wrong again. In the past there has been a collision with Kamst more often. According to local residents, noisy parties in the yard have already occurred, to the annoyance of the neighbors. And then there was the debacle surrounding the Easter fire earlier this year. Kamst organized this event. Five local residents were against.
In their opinion, the resulting lump was too big and, according to them, it contained waste. The case eventually ended up before the Council of State, where the local residents ultimately backed down. One of the neighbors has now moved. “It is a history of pushing boundaries,” sighs Moolhuizen.
Some local residents have announced that they will file an objection in any case as soon as the amended zoning plan is submitted.
Jeroen Kamst says that he tried to sit down with local residents, but they did not like it.
Regarding the nuisance, he points to the character of Ericasestraat: outside the built-up area and through agricultural areas. “A lot of cars and trucks drive past there. Not too economical. But that doesn’t bother anyone. Except when they turn off in my driveway.”
Furthermore, many matters have been cleared in the updated application. “I have looked carefully at this together with the municipality.” According to him, it could have gone another way. “If there had been a large arable farmer here with a thousand hectares of land, it would have been much busier in terms of activity.”
Kamst’s company was discussed this week during the committee meeting of the municipality of Emmen. The lion’s share of parties had no objection to Kamst’s plans. According to Marcel Poelman, it was a company that was in good shape. The plan fit within current policy.
Martine Stulp (D66) regarded the neighborhood’s concern as a signal. She asked the council what enforcement options were possible if there were more traffic movements than agreed. GroenLinks was the most outspoken opponent and pointed out that rules were poorly enforced in the past.
Councilor René van der Weide says that a lot of consultation has taken place with all those involved. But according to him, the parties are ‘fairly far apart.’ Nevertheless, the plan falls within the limits in terms of spatial impact and environmental and noise standards. “But Kamst knows that he is under a magnifying glass,” said the councilor.
Moreover, according to him, clear rules have been agreed regarding the storage of materials and the storage of sand. “Whether the neighborhood is happy with it? I don’t think so. But I do think we are meeting eighty to ninety percent of their wishes.”