Four football clubs from the municipality of Hoogeveen want to make their accommodation more sustainable than the municipality has in mind. The chairmen of sc Elim, sv Pesse, sv HODO and vv Hollandscheveld hope that the city council will adjust the planning.
In March, the municipality presented a plan worth millions for renovating or replacing changing facilities at municipal sports parks, so that they will meet the sustainability requirements. The proposal of the college of mayor and aldermen states that the complex in Elim will be tackled between 2025 and 2027, the changing rooms at the Hollandscheveld clubs and those in Pesse will be next after 2027.
The clubs do not think the schedule is appropriate. They argue that it is at odds with the sustainability ambitions of the municipality and associations. “The phasing to invest is now only based on the structural condition, with our associations now actually being ‘punished’ for going the extra mile in the maintenance of their accommodations,” they write.
The clubs want a broader view than the structural condition. They see that the costs of maintenance and energy are rising every year. Those costs decrease when the sports complexes are renovated and made more sustainable. “We can therefore break this trend of ever-increasing costs by not waiting, but by accelerating in making the sports parks more sustainable.”
In addition, they find modern accommodation important as an incentive to exercise. The clubs also do not expect to be able to cope with the current facilities until it is their turn sometime after 2027. New central heating systems or boilers may be needed earlier, which do not fit within the picture after 2027. They find double, unnecessary costs in the villages.
In a letter, the clubs write that discussions have shown that the Board of B and W does not intend to adjust their proposal. They were referred to the city council, where there are still opportunities to change plans.
The request to councilors is to allow the sustainability to take place between now and 2025. The clubs indicate that they can also do the necessary work themselves, which reduces costs.