The new sports hall in Egmond aan Zee will be built. Yesterday, the judge approved the zoning plan, which includes 34 homes in addition to the hall. According to the municipality, construction could start as early as next year. But residents are still very concerned. “It is a missed opportunity for additional housing.”
That is what Rita Koppedraaijer says on behalf of the Action Committee sports hall De Watertoren. The group previously came up with a alternative location for a new sports hall to be built. “By moving the hall to Sportlaan, this offers space for more homes.” The plan failed to pass the city council.
“A missed opportunity”, repeats Koppedraaijer. “So much has changed in the municipality since the shooting of our alternative. There were all kinds of housing plans at the time, but they didn’t make it† Here you could have created the space to house more houses.”
Call for more homes
She does not want to call her speech a passing station. “With the knowledge of now. With all those building plans falling, I continue to fight for a better plan for Egmond. I hope they scratch their heads in the council. They are all calling for more homes, but they leave it here This could be a win-win solution.”
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The municipality is happy with the judge’s ‘green light’. “The zoning plan is now irreversible. We can get to work,” says Alderman Arend Jan van den Belt with relief. “We are now going to tender the project and arrange the environmental permit.”
The final construction will be carried out in phases. “First there will be a new sports hall, only after that the old one will be demolished. So sports can continue. Later it is the turn of the houses.” The alderman thinks that the sports hall can be started next year. The construction of the houses will take longer, he says. “Two to three years.”
Who becomes the operator?
“All associations can return to the sports hall. That has been agreed with the council. There will also be a sports cafe again,” explains Van den Belt. It is not yet known who will manage the hall and the cafe. “Parties can register for this. The best plan will win.”
This means that current manager Onno Tijm will not remain guaranteed. “The new operator may only use the sports café for the benefit of sport”, the statement said Township† “No parties and parties as is happening now.”
“A blister ball that is organized after the half marathon of Egmond, for example, is possible. For other events, a permit will have to be requested separately.”
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According to Onno Tijm ‘no ordinary operator will be able to survive without extras’. “It will then become a commercial party.” He is very concerned about what the disappearance of the sports bar will mean for the village.
Egmond’s social living room
“You know, it’s not about me. Of course I will be sick of it if I have to leave here after 17 years, but it’s about the Egmonders and village life. What’s the use of such a sports hall if there’s nothing left in the future? mag. It’s like a living room here, a real brown bar.”
Tijm continues: “We have weddings, parties, condolences and music here. Think of the Trekpop Festival, for example. It is always full, where will it go? And the choirs that practice here. They can come here for a reasonable price.”
These concerns of Tijm are also shared by Rita Koppe Draaijer of the Action Committee. “This sports café has a very important social function. That is simply forgotten. With a commercial party, the friendly will soon be gone.”
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