The arrival of a number of mega stalls for 15,000 pigs on the Logtsebaan in Oirschot seems to have been discontinued for good. The Oirschot city council voted unanimously on Thursday evening for a collaboration with the development company Ruimte voor Ruimte, which wants to buy the pig farm, in order to prevent the construction of the stables right next to the De Kampina nature reserve.
The arrival of the mega stables has been discussed since 2008. At that time, the municipality gave the green light for the major extension to the Logtsebaan. Later, the province also agreed to this, to the frustration of Natuurmonumenten and the Brabant Environmental Federation (BMF). Those organizations have been challenging the permits from the outset.
The matter was litigated for ten years, until the Council of State decided that the permits could not be revoked. In the meantime, the municipality and province also changed their position. They also saw the arrival of the mega stables as ‘undesirable’.
Failed attempt
In recent years, research has been carried out into how the construction of the stables could still be prevented. For example, the province tried to buy up the pig farm last year, after it unexpectedly went up for sale. Then the owner did not agree, despite an – according to the province – ‘appropriate and realistic’ offer.
Now Room for Room has succeeded in convincing the owner. The development company did set a condition for cooperation with the municipality of Oirschot, in order to absorb any financial loss. The sale is said to be worth around 2 million euros.
Alderman Joep van de Ven recently indicated that he hoped for an agreement from the city council. “There is a very small risk for the municipality. You must occasionally dare to stick your neck out for a good cause.”
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