Even before delving into the legal depth, the judge decides that the legal costs of both the municipality and the grid operator can be recovered from the residents if these parties win. This amounts to twice an amount of 792 euros. Exactly what Liander’s lawyers warned about in the letter.
“I really have difficulty with that,” the lawyer for the local residents said in court. “It is inappropriate for a municipality to ask that at all. The same applies to Liander.” Although this is customary in a civil lawsuit, according to Liander’s lawyer, the lawyer for the local residents asks the judge not to agree with this in his ruling.
‘Just talk’
During the substantive discussion, local residents mainly emphasized that they ‘just wanted to talk’. They do not feel heard and are overwhelmed by the municipality’s decision to sell. “We lack humanity.”
When the judge asks a spokesperson for the municipality of Huizen whether consideration had been given to informing residents of the green strip, he first answers: “You may wonder what it would have added.” The Huizers present react with dismay. The municipality’s spokesperson ultimately stated that they may have given the wrong expectations.
The judge will make a ruling on January 13.