A council majority in Assen seems to say ‘yes’ to an extension of shopping hours on Sundays. This seems to apply specifically to the food sector.
Entrepreneur Nico van Dijk of the City Spar Assen is also a big supporter of the proposal. Tonight, he handed over 500 statements of support for the extension of opening hours to the college.
A number of parties do not immediately push the proposal off the road, but only see bread in the food sector on Sundays. City party PLOP suggested an expansion for shops with to-go concepts. “There is only one entrepreneur who is eagerly waiting for this, and that is City Spar in Assen,” said party chairman Henk Santing. The CDA also likes that idea.
ChristenUnie, Assen Central and the SP are against opening on Sundays. The SP is afraid that employees will be put under pressure. The ChristenUnie believes that Sunday rest should be cherished. “Sunday rest is good for us to discharge and relax. This phenomenon has been around for centuries and more and more is being eaten,” says CU leader Bouke Weening.
Several parties made a round of Asser entrepreneurs to investigate the support for extended opening hours. Assen Centraal detected little enthusiasm, from which the party concludes that there is too little support for the plans. “The local, small entrepreneurs are the victims of this”, says Jan Talens.
The PvdA also notices a lack of enthusiasm among entrepreneurs. “But at the same time they indicate that they do allow other entrepreneurs to be open,” said PvdA councilor Willard Bouwmeester.
D66 goes to the drawing board again before the party comes up with a final proposal.