Mayor Margo Mulder wants a report this month on the incidents in her city of Bergen op Zoom on New Year’s Eve. She is very disappointed by the incidents that have occurred in various neighborhoods.
Things went wrong a number of times, especially in the Gageldonk and Noordgeest districts. The low point was the major fire that destroyed the roof of the Dirk supermarket chain in Noordgeest just after midnight. The mayor finds it ‘inconceivable’ that the fire-fighting work was also made more difficult by troublemakers, as she reports on the municipality’s website.
READ ALSO: Roof of supermarket destroyed by major fire, mainly water damage inside
“In the run-up to New Year’s Eve, I spoke with many care providers. They do their utmost to ensure everything runs smoothly and brace themselves during days like this and it is very sad that some people thwart and deliberately frustrate this good work.”
Mulder wants to inform the municipal council about the incidents this month. A report is drawn up together with the police and it is examined ‘whether and how these types of excesses can be prevented in the future’.
Neighborhoods neglected
“The neighborhoods have been neglected too much. And in the six hours that New Year’s Eve encompasses, you cannot possibly make up for what we have left behind in years. That is why I continue to insist on neighborhood-oriented work and I also want to push for more police deployment. After all, we will have to change this together so that all residents can see New Year’s Eve as a party again.”
The supermarket was partly destroyed by the fire. “It affects a lot of people: the neighborhood, your own employees. But we are relieved that the building is still there and that there have been no casualties,” sales manager Jan den Otter told Omroep Brabant on Tuesday night. It is striking that there was a burnt-out car in the parking lot of the supermarket. It burned out earlier in the evening.