The initiators of the Ukraine shelter in Dongen have won a first battle against the municipality. On Monday, the judge in Breda, which Dongen imposed against the place where Leon Bronckers and Deborah van der Meere take care of fourteen refugees, has shifted aside for the time being.
About two years ago, Leon and Deborah, who are often addressed by the residents as grandmother and grandfather, started the refugee shelter in Dongen-Vaart. But the mayor and aldermen now want all refugees from Ukraine to be taken care of at a central location in the municipality.
Because the couple would not comply with the rules and does not have a permit, Dongen has imposed a penalty of two thousand euros per week. This is how the college wants to force them to stop.
Leon and Deborah objected to this, on Thursday the municipal objection committee will discuss that. The committee then comes to the college with an advice about their case and that makes a decision again whether the shelter of Leon and Deborah can remain.
But all those weeks that go over this, the penalty continues to go through and two thousand euros is added every week. The judge has now decided that that is not possible. The penalty is not valid for the time being and will only take effect two weeks after the College of B and W has made a new decision.